TIMOTHY MISSION FUND

It is with sincere gratitude that we acknowledge the gifts received by our mission fund during the month of March totalling $791.00. In acknowledging these gifts, may we do so as David did the gifts for the temple, saying, “Now therefore, our God, we thank Thee, and praise Thy glorious Name. But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of Thee, and of Thine own have we given Thee.”

Adding this amount to our previous balance has enabled us to send out nine checks of $100. each to the following: Bethesda Clinic in Nigeria, Bethlehem Mission in Baldwin, Ebenezer Scripture Mission in Rhodesia, the Wycliffe Bible Translators, the Spanish Evangelical Mission, the Banner of Truth Tract Mission, the Mbuma Mission in Rhodesia, Rev. Kuijt and the work in Irian-Jaya, and the Thembiso Children’s Home in Rhodesia. May the Lord follow these gifts with His blessing, to His honor and to the welfare of souls. Our balance is $38.07 at the end of March.

Gifts to our mission fund should be sent in care of Mr. Tom Stryd, P.O. Box 2182, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49003. Again our thanks for your support.

BETHESDA CLINIC OPERATING ROOM

A glimpse into the operating room of the Bethesda Clinic, where Dr. Schoonhoven performs an operation.

ARTICLES IN “PAULUS” TO BE TRANSLATED FOR PUBLICATION IN THE BANNER OF TRUTH

April 1975

Dear Mission Friends:

Our Mission Board met together on April 1 in Sheboygan, Wis. Rev. L. Kieboom until now our vice-chairman was called to be our chairman and Rev. J.C. Weststrate became the vice-chairman. Upon our former meeting held in Rock Vally Iowa, on August 30th, 1974, I was called to be the clerk. Upon our last meeting of April 1, it was decided that I should endeavor to translate the most important articles of the Holland Mission bulletin “PAULUS” for publication in the “Banner of Truth.” However, be reminded that there will be a rather long delay between the time that we receive the twice monthly “PAULUS”, before it is possible to publish the translated articles in the Banner. For instance the letters we found in the February issues of “PAULUS”, were received at the end of March. After translating them it may be June before you can read them in the Banner. This will leave us a delay in our line of communication. Nevertheless, with the help of the Lord I will try to do what I can to keep you informed.

Finally beloved, may I request you not to forget our Mission workers in your prayers; in private as members of the different congregations, but also as officebearers in public. May the Lord remember all our Mission workers and also all of you as well.

General Mission of the Netherlands

Reformed Congregations of America and Canada:

Rev. Wm. Suyker

P.O. Box 82

Markham. Ont. Canada

Postal Code: L3P 3J5

GIFTS RECEDED FOR MISSIONS IN MARCH, 1975

CLASSIS MIDWEST SOURCE AMOUNT

South Holland Mission

Col. Collection 180.00

St. Catharines Mission

Col. Collection 1925.00

Friend in Chicago

Heights Gift 100.00

Friend in Portage, Mich. Gift 23.00

Friend in Jenison, Mich. Gift 25.00

Friend in So. Holland Gift 15.00

Friend in Chicago

Heights Gift 100.00

CLASSIS WEST SOURCE AMOUNT

Friend in Sheboygan Gift 40.00

Corsica Mission Sale Gift 1000.00

CLASSIS FAR WEST -

Fort Macleod Mission Col. Collection 155.00

Lynden Mission Col. Collection 250.00

Chilliwack Mission Col. Collection 640.00

TOTAL: $4453.00

MISSION RECEIPTS FOR THE YEAR 1974 FROM NORWICH ONTARIO

81 Miscellaneous Gifts $2076.44

Ladies Aid Sale 287.00

Mission Evening Miss Herfst 557.70

Gift in Church Collection 100.00

Ladies Aid Sale 500.00

Mission Evening Mr. Louwerse 485.12

TOTAL: $4006.26

Dear Friends,

Herewith we want to thank everyone for their kind donations for the mission work. May the Lord bless you and your gifts. At present Mr. Warmenhoven is in the hospital. We hope that the Lord will spare him and strengthen him to again perform his labors at the Bethlehem Mission, and that he may say that it was good to be afflicted. On our last mission meeting held April 1, 1975 at Sheboygan, Wisconsin, Rev. Kieboom was chosen chairman in the place of Rev. Van Zweden. Rev. Westrate was chosen vice chairman. Rev. Suyker is clerk. Herewith we want to thank Rev. Van Zweden for the many years that he served as chairman of the mission. On this meeting it was decided to help support the M.A.F. in the purchase of a helicoptor to be used in the Irian area for the various missions that are laboring there. This helicoptor will be ready for service the Lord willing sometime in the summer of 1975. This will be a great help for all our laborers on the mission field in that area. I hope you understand that the helicoptor will belong to the M.A.F. At present Tom and Meta Moerdyk are still waiting for their visa. May the Lord give prayer for the spreading out of His Kingdom both at home and abroad.

American General Mission Fund

Netherland Reformed Congregations

of America and Canada

John Spaans, Treasurer

Plankinton Box 106 RR1

South Dakota 57368

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The Banner of Truth Tract Mission committee hereby expresses its sincere appreciation for gifts received for the publication and free distribution of tracts. Tracts to be published will consist of suitable articles taken from the denominational publication, “The Banner of Truth”, as authorized by Classis East and Mid-West. Personal gifts are encouraged for the furtherance of this endeavor and will be gratefully received. Gifts may be mailed to The Banner of Truth Tract Mission, 540 Crescent St. N.E., Grand Rapids, Mich. 49503. Gifts received during the months of January, February, and March are as follows:

Artesia Congregation $ 44.00

Timothy Mission Fund 100.00

Miscellaneous 75.50

Total: $219.50

NOTES OUT OF THE CATECHISM CLASSES

OF

Rev. J. Fraanje

Using the Catechism Book

SPECIMENS OF DIVINE TRUTHS

by

Rev. A. Hellenbroek

The States of Christ and the Degreees of His Humiliation Lesson 23-Part 2

Now Hellenbroek asks: By Whom was He conceived?

Answer: By the power of the Holy Ghost.

The Angel said to Mary, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God”. Luke 1:35.

Why would Hellenbroek ask this question?

Each one of you are old enough to realize that everyone is born out of and by means of human beings. John the Baptist, who was appointed to be an extraordinary man (the forerunner of Christ), had not only a natural mother but also a natural father.

John was a person out of a person and by means of a person.

Was that true of the Lord Jesus too?

No, for if that were true, He would have had original sin just as all children do. He would have been conceived and born in sin, and that could not be.

That is why He was born out of a person, that is, the virgin Mary, but was not conceived by a man.

His human nature involved having a mother but no father.

The Holy Ghost came upon Mary in a way we cannot understand, and with almighty power caused her to be with child which possessed a Divine nature as well as a human nature. We could explain it further this way: Just as the Father and the Son worked through the Holy Spirit in the creation of the world, They in like manner worked through the Holy Spirit to form the human nature of Christ.

We ought not ever to attempt comprehension of this, because we cannot understand it. We ought only to believe and marvel in this Divine mystery. As you become older you will become aware of the misunderstanding there is in the world regarding the birth of Christ.

That is why the next question asks: Was He also born of her flesh and blood?

Answer: Yes. Gal 4:4 “But when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, etc.”

Hellenbroek posed this question because he knew there are people who say that Jesus used Mary’s body for His birth, but that He did not acquire any of her flesh and blood and consequently not her true son. They contend that Jesus passed through Mary’s body like water passes through a pipe without taking on any of its substance. Don’t you ever believe this.

The Holy Spirit, in His infinite knowledge, foresaw that men would refuse to accept Christ’s human nature as truth and therefore caused clear counterproof to be written in Holy Scripture concerning that denial. Did you notice that in the text of Galatians 4 which you just recited?

It does not say: “made through a woman” (like water through a pipe) no, it says, “made of a woman”.

Now there could be some opposition to that. Might He not have brought His human substance (flesh and blood) from heaven?

No, He first acquired it initially from Mary. Is there someone who can give proof of that from God’s Word?

The Holy Spirit directed the pen of the various writers so that not one word is more than is needed or without a meaning. It is plainly written in Luke 1:57 regarding Elizabeth, ‘And she brought forth a son.”

But it is written of Mary in Luke 2:7. “And she brought forth HER Son. The Holy Spirit gives emphasis to that little word “her”, pointing out that Jesus was Mary’s own son and He had acquired from her his flesh and blood.

The old church fathers were in conflict with these errors too. This can be detected in the confession that (according to historical accounts) Bishop Athanasius authored in defence of the foundations of the truth. Athanasius was the bishop of the great and beautiful city Alexandria. It was the capital city of Egypt. He lived in the time about 300 years after Christ was upon earth.

There were very many heretics in those days who troubled the church with all sorts of false doctrines. In order to defend the established doctrine against the heretic Arius, Athanasius, in the year 333 A.D., set up a “confession of faith” in brief form.

He became the most eminent of the Greek church fathers in the 4th century and his confession continues to be used in the church. It can be found in the book called the “Doctrinal Standards” of our churches.

You ought to concentrate on and learn by heart the articles in the confession that refers to the incarnation of Christ.

Article 29. Furthermore it is necessary to everlasting salvation that we also believe rightly the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Article 30. For the right faith is that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and man. Article 31. God of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and man of the substance of His mother, born in the world. Article 32. Perfect God and perfect man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting. Article 33. Equal to the Father as touching His Godhead, and inferior to the Father as touching His manhood. Article 34. Who, although He is God and man, yet He is not two, but one Christ. Article 35. One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh, but by taking of the manhood into God. Article 36. One altogether, not by confusion of substance, but by unity of person.

I am very sure that here are some statements too difficult for you to understand, but try to remember the words; God may apply these matters to your personal understanding one day.

It is very profitable and necessary that you become grounded in these historical truths, but, even if you were able to recite in a very nice way, who was born in Bethlehem, out of whom and through whom, when and under whose reign he was born exactly as it was, you would still not find it to be profitable for your poor soul. What must take place?

You must obtain a personal saving knowledge of the Mediator and His humble birth. When the Lord quickens the elect sinner, that person becomes aware that there is just as little room in his heart for Jesus as there was room for Him in Bethlehem. He will also experience that life is empty without Jesus and that his soul is in an eternal state of ruin. The situation is the same, then, as it was in Bethlehem. There was no room for Him, but the event took place regardless. He was born; nothing could hinder that.

Mary must surely have thought, “How can this all be accomplished?” It seemed impossible that the prophesies would be fulfilled upon the exact time and place. The closer it came to the time the more impossible it seemed, but: everything was accomplished in its own time.

That is the experience a sinner has too. When he really accepts the fact there is no room for the Mediator in his heart, then that is the exact time that God makes room for Him there. But do you know what happens? The more urgently the Lord works to accomplish this the more strongly the sinner opposes it. This is because he is hostile to salvation by free grace. He constantly tries to make himself suitable in order to be accepted through the Mediator. Therein lies his enmity.

But it is a blessed fact that God rules man. He is the only one that can conquer his people. What is impossible for man, can be accomplished by the love of God. They must come before Him without one plea and in due time will yield all to Him. It is against man’s nature to be saved by free grace, but if he is finally subdued and by grace experiences grace, it is a matter of everlasting amazement to him.

What a blessing then, for a young person or an old one, if they are no longer free to do what they are inclined to do. This is because the Lord is holding them securely.

I hope you are one of them, boys and girls. You can be sure that after we die we can no longer hear the proclamation of salvation through the Mediator but it will be too late to be saved anyway.

This is my hope: that you will find it impossible to live without Him and then it will not be necessary to die without Him.

All glory, might and honor
Ascribe to God on high;
His arm protects His people
Who on His power rely.

Forth from Thy holy dwelling
Thy awful glories shine;
Thou strengthenest Thy people;
Unending praise be Thine.

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

Proverbs XXII, 1

QUESTION BOX

GOG and MAGOG

Question: What does Gog and Magog mean in Ezekiel 38?

Answer: The apostle Peter wrote (2 Peter 3:16) that in the epistles of Paul are some things hard to understand; and that rightly. We could also say that about various parts of Ezekiel’s prophecy, and especially about Gog and Magog. It is very true, that blessed Lion of the tribe of Judah must break for us the seals of His eternal testimony and lead us into it by His Spirit, so that we may understand it and take it to heart. Everything depends upon the ministrations of Christ and the instructions of the Holy Spirit. Would there were more inner need. “For if any one lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not.” However, that desire must also be wrought by God’s Spirit. No, not to hide behind it, but yet it remains the language of God’s uncovered people, “Without Thee we can do nothing.”

But you will say, “I know all that, and I heartily agree with it; but how about an answer to my question?”

It is easier to place your question than to answer it. Matthew Henry wrote about this: “The critical expositors have enough to do here to enquire out Gog and Magog,” and he adds, “We cannot pretend either to add to their observations or to determine their controversies.

You may ask, “Has there then been so much to do about Gog and Magog?” Indeed, more than we can realize. They have kept themselves busy with this from ancient times and searched for a solution.

Augustine supposed Gog to be the devil and the heretics. The Jews beheld in Gog and Magog peoples who dwelled in the North between the Caspian mountains and the supposed Sabbath river. They told all sorts of wonderful things about the war of Gog against the Jews. In that battle, Messiah, the son of Joseph, would perish but the second Messiah, the son of David, would defeat Gog and Magog in a severe battle.

The old and later Chiliasts (the adherents of premillinialism) brought those revelations of God to the war which shall be waged against the Holy One after the fall of the anti-christ and after the expiration of the millenium of Christ’s reign on earth, that new golden age.

Eusebius thought Gog meant the Roman emperor, and Magog the Roman Empire. The Roman Catholics had also an explanation for that and spoke of the antichrist which should arise shortly before the last day.

According to Jerome’s opinion, by Gog we must understand all arch heretics and by Magog all those who believe the heretical teachers and adhere to them. Ambrose would have it that Gog was the Goths or Vandals and similar barbarian nations.

The opinion of most later commentators was that Gog indicated the successors of Alexander the Great. (Junius Piscator, Polanus, Grotius and also the English and Dutch writers of the marginal annotations.) Luther thought that it referred to Turkey and the Turkish empire.

I shall enumerate no more opinions. From this we see, that the commentators have searched for all sorts of ways to find the right path in this darkness. The most general and easiest opinion is that it refers to the enemies of the Church. Objections may be brought against that, too.

The well known Jac. Koelman also expresses his mind about it in “Key of the Revelation” page 348. An English divine writes: They are prophetical riddles, which possibly before their fulfilling, shall never be entirely understood. However, since everything which has been written before had been written for our learning, we must also investigate and search the Scriptures so that we may understand them according to the measure of light which the Lord is pleased to grant.

Without penetrating any deeper, it is most advisable to subscribe to that which a respected Bible commentator wrote: “Ezekiel is appointed to prophecy against Gog, and to tell him that God is against him. God does not only see those that are now the enemies of His church, and sets Himself against them, but He foresees those that will be so and lets them know by His word that He is against them too; and yet He is pleased to make use of them to serve His own purposes, for the glory of His own name: surely their wrath shall praise Him, and the remainder thereof He will restrain. Psalm 76:10.

May the Lord grant us out of grace to draw spiritual instruction from all this, to His glorification and our humiliation and joy.

Rev. Lamain

UNDER THE SHADOW OF HIS WINGS

“Thou are my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah” Ps. 32:7

We find in this text the following three thoughts for consideration: Misery, deliverance, and gratitude. We are living in a world of great unrest whereof we read: “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” Matt. 24:7,8. The cause of all unrest is found in the breach which Adam the father of us all had made with his creator. In his state of rectitude he stood as a free man, covered with the image of his creator. Consciencely he broke this relationship for himself and his posterity, and immediately lost his relationship with his heavenly benefactor. His awareness thereof we find recorded:”And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day; and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?” Gen. 3:8,9. He found himself no longer a free man as he sold himself to Satan who is a liar from the beginning. We find in Adam’s fall our total impotence of ever returning to God. God Himself is the cause and origin of finding a hiding place for Adam and Eve as they could not conceal themselves from the all knowing God. ‘And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” Gen. 3:15. What glad tidings this must have been for our first parents, such guilty law breakers, that God assured them a sure hiding place with the restoring of the broken breach in His eternal only begotten son Christ Jesus, the surety for His church. The manifestation of God’s love for His bride, causes them to say when this love is in exercise: “We love Him, because He first loved us.” I John 4:1 O marvelous love of the Father to love rebellious creatures as he finds them dead in trespasses and sin. “And you hath He quickened who were dead in trespasses and sin.” Eph. 2:1.

All God’s people by the act of the regenerating work of the Spirit of God are brought sooner or later to the knowledge of their total inability to seek God. Examples are manifold both in the Old and New Testament of God’s infallible word. It is discriminating grace which saved Noah and his family from perishing in the deluge, while the wickedness of the world, provoked God’s wrath and caused the flood, we read:”But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” Gen. 6:8. Another example we find in God calling Abram out of “Ur of the Chaldaeans”. It is likewise found in the life of Isaac, in whom all the nations of the earth would be blessed. When his wife Rebekah gave birth to twins, unto whom the Lord had spoken: “The elder shall serve the younger”. The electing love of the Father for the younger. Indeed God’s people are a peculiar people. Read the roll call of the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11. They all confess in the state of their total unworthiness before God “Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes.” Gen. 18:27.

The author of Psalm 32 found his rest only in the applied mercies of God, lessons he had been taught which were not to be found in him: “I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.” Ps. 119:176.

The first lesson one will learn when attending the school, where Christ Jesus is the teacher; Is holy reverence. The more one looks at this teacher through His word, the more he desires to abase himself because of his great “LEPROSY”, crying Unclean, Unclean. This is a token of God’s drawing love: “They shall come with weeping, and with supplication will I lead them”. Jer. 31:9. David’s trial with all who know themselves as totally leprous, seek a hiding place, a place of shelter from the Holy wrath of God upon His just demands. “Be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.” Lev. 19:2. The longer they attend this school, the harder the lessons become. They recall the tender instructions received, and were at times encouraged because of His love tokens to them: “Fear not for I am with thee.” Isa. 43:5. But they find that in them dwellest no good thing; this is bitter unto them as they are instructed: “But turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations”. Ez. 8:6. In process of time they receive further instruction that the fruit of their salvation is not to be found in them: “Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever.” Matt. 21:19. They are brought in the furnace of affliction with no way to escape: “Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction”. Isa. 48:10. Until they are personally called with power to look away from self: “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebr. 12:2. A state of sin is a state of spiritual death , which consists in a separation from God and His divine favour. But Christ had obtained for His people a legal discharge from the handwriting of ordinances, which was against us. “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross.” Col. 2:14.

They find this hiding place, in the wounds of His hands and feet, and from His bleeding side as He cried: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Mark 15:34. So that His people could hide under the shadow of His wings. O wonder of redeeming FREE grace, being set free from the Just wrath of God in the time, and for eternity. This was David’s experience: “Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in His temple.” Ps. 27:3,4.

Dear reader, do you have knowledge of being a spiritual student attending the school where Christ is your teacher? If so, you will have realized His patience to such an ignorant student, and His forbearance for your dullness in learning the scriptures: “Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory? “Luke 24:25,26. Have you received the quickening Spirit of God who opened your eyes, so that you can say with the two citizens of Emmaus; “Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the scriptures?” Luke 24:32.

Who shall describe the excellency of this instructor who has become the surety for them by the Father: “And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” I John 2:1. “He is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.” Hebr. 8:6. The unbreakable covenant: “For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.” Isa. 54:10.

David described his salvation giving glory to the Triune God: “Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance.” It is the electing love of God the Father, the redeeming love of the Son, and the applying love of the Holy Ghost which is the foundation of every soul who has found shelter under the shadow of His wings. Therefore they are called to give glory to God: “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” I Cor. 6:20.

May God’s people be privileged to bestorm the throne of grace that the Lord may grant a revival of true repentance in the time of great apostasy, so that many may be brought under the shadow of His wings, ere the full flood of His righteous judgments overtake us.

In Thee my soul hath shelter found,
And Thou hast been from foes around
The tower to which I flee.

Within Thy house will I abide;
My refuge sure, what-e’er betide,
Thy shelt’ring wings shall be.

C.F. Boerkoel, Sr.

THE COVENANT OF GRACE

I. IN ETERNITY

“An everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure”. This sacred truth was the glory of the gospel ministry in former days, both in church and chapel. With what delight did godly men dwell on the blessings treasured up for sinners in the covenant of grace! And with what equal delight did graciously-taught hearers, feeling their sin and helplessness, hear of a covenant salvation in which Christ is All in all! In the homes of rich and poor alike, Hawker’s “Morning and Evening Portions” spoke the same language, whilst so many precious hymns (especially by John Kent) gloried in the same theme.

Today these are strange words to many — words seldom heard and less understood. But this is to the spiritual impoverishment of the churches. “If the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare for the battle?”

ORDERED WELL

The Word of God is a book of many covenants; but essentially there are two — work and grace. The covenant of works was made between God and man in his innocency; the condition of blessing — man’s perfect, uninterrupted obedience to God’s Law. “Do this and live. Do it not, and dying thou shalt surely die”. The covenant of works is a broken covenant. It gives no hope to a guilty sinner. Repentance, amendment of life, prayers, tears — these can never satisfy. How many stumble here! How many confuse works and grace, law and gospel!

The other covenant is that of grace, “a better covenant established on better promises”. The covenant of grace cannot be broken. It stood eternally between the Father and His dear Son, and with the elect in Him.

“This covenant stood ere time began
That God with man might dwell;
Eternal wisdom drew the plan,
In all things ordered well”.

The condition of this covenant is the obedience, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. All depends on this. And this is a condition that could not be broken. The Lord Jesus, when He gave His life a sacrifice, sealed the covenant with His own blood.

The preciousness of the everlasting covenant lies in its security. God the Father chooses His people. God the Son undertakes to redeem them. God the Holy Ghost undertakes to call them by grace and apply the blessings of the covenant. This security is a sweet theme. God’s people stand in eternal union with Jesus, loved with an everlasting love. They are viewed complete in Christ. They stood as secure before time began as when at last they shall be in heaven. It is grace that reigns. There is nothing uncertain here. Ephesians 1 is a beautiful commentary on this sublime subject. Two phrases stand out: “to the praise of the glory of His grace”; “according to the good pleasure of His will”.

These are solid, certain, substantial truths — “things that cannot be shaken which shall remain”.

It was this blessed covenant that rejoiced Oliver Cromwell’s heart amid all his turmoils, without and within. He writes: “That transaction is without us; sure and steadfast, between the Father and the Mediator in His blood. Therefore, leaning upon the Son, or looking to Him, thirsting after Him, and embracing Him, we are His seed; and the covenant is sure to all the seed. God is bound in faithfulness to Christ, and in Him to us. The covenant is without us, a transaction between God and Christ. Look up to it. God engageth in it to pardon us, to write His law in our heart, to plant His fear so that we shall never depart from Him. We, under all our sins and infirmities, can daily offer a perfect Christ; and thus we have peace and safety and apprehension of love from a Father in covenant”.

AND SURE

Thomas Scott tells us in his Force of Truth how he was brought to see the blessedness of this doctrine. Many of his hearers were awakened and then raised to a good hope through grace. Yet they still feared lest, left to themselves, they might give up all and go back to the world. Scott hardly knew how to counsel them — till the Lord taught him this soul-establishing truth: that the work of grace in the soul has its origin in God’s eternal covenant; and what God has eternally planned in covenent, He will not fail to carry on and complete. This put everything right. Fears were removed, souls established, the people comforted (and himself also).

May the Lord revive covenant truths in our pulpits and in our hearts.

Mr. B. A. Ramsbottom,.

the editor of “The Gospel Standard”.

THE PRISON AND THE BIBLE

Some years ago, in a cottage in one of the western counties, there lived an elderly man, with his wife, a son, and a daughter. The wife was a zealous Roman Catholic, and had brought up her children as such, and used to walk nine or ten miles to Mass.

The son was a notorious poacher, and when intoxicated, so violent that neighbors have said that they trembled to meet him. He made his way to a distant part of the country, and got work as a navvy (laborer employed in making canals, railroads, etc.). Here he fell ill, and, led by a Hand he as yet knew not, made up his mind to surrender to the police. His case was a bad one, and he was sentenced to four months in the county prison. Here he fell into great trouble about his sins. All his wickedness seemed to crowd upon him, and he could get no rest. Whole nights he paced his cell in agony of soul. At last he sent for a priest, confessed, received absolution, and was prescribed a certain penance. This penance consisted in repeating a stated number of “Ave Marias.” He set diligently to work on his knees to get through his task. Two things, however, troubled him greatly; he did not feel that his guilt was gone; nor could he understand how it was, if his sins were forgiven, that there was still penance to perform. Yet he persevered, counting his beads, as, one by one, the repetitions of the required form were gone through.

At last, after being long strung up by this agony of feeling, he seemed to hear a voice behind him saying, “Who can forgive sins but God only?” The impression was so strong that he turned round to see who was speaking.

Some might say this was the natural effect of solitude, and an intense state of feeling, but the Word of God declares, “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it gorth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”

He turned again to his penance, but the words seemed to ring in his ear, “Who can forgive sins but God only?” He gave up his task in despair.

In every cell in the county jail there is a Bible. Thank God, no man has yet been allowed to deprive our poor prisoners of that silent teacher, nor can any shut out the blessed Spirit, Who makes His own Word mighty to effect His own purpose.

He prayed that God would, in His mercy, guide him aright. None can fully understand, unless they have known for themselves the bondage of soul by a false religion, what this poor Romanist felt when he opened the forbidden Book, the precious Bible! Here, however, he found what he wanted — Jesus, Who came into the world to seek and to save them that are lost; God’s way of granting forgiveness of sins through the blood of His own son, and through faith in that blood. O, how did he hunger and thirst after Jesus and His righteousness, and peace with God! What comfort to believe in that Savior, his Savior. His joy was great. He could not but tell the priest; but their paths thenceforth did not lie together. A solemn warning against reading the Bible was of course given.

When his sentence had expired, he was discharged from the prison, and at once he resolved to return home and try to earn an honest living under his parents’ roof. He was met by temptation, which he happily was given strength to overcome. He had not been long free when some of his old companions met him. “Here’s the dark angel again” (such was the nickname by which he was known); “come and have a drink?” “By God’s grace, never again whilst I live,” was the uncompromising reply. Drink had been his snare; but he had been better taught than to dally with the old temptation.

When he left the prison he had one shilling in his pocket. One penny he spent in the purchase of a tract which narrates a remarkable case of conversion; with the remainder he managed to make his way home, not, however, without some fear as to the consequences.

But he felt that he had a loving duty to perform — he desired to tell his mother of that Savior Who he had found in the prison. Notwithstanding all his wickedness, he had been her favorite, and he loved her in return. He ventured home; the poor sister nearly fainted when she saw him come to the cottage. He told her that he was an altered man. The mother listened to his story, and to his testimony for Jesus.

With the boldness of a man who has found the truth, Bible in hand, he told his old friends what he had found. He told us, in relating the circumstance, that he knew he was a poor ignorant man, but that God enabled him to answer from His Word the various arguments brought against his new religion, and to enjoy what he found.

Who can awaken the dead but God the Holy Ghost, the Author and Giver of life? Who can find the lost sheep but Christ the Good Shepherd, Who giveth His life for the sheep? Christ’s work and the Holy Spirit’s work, dear reader, are solemn realities. You may not yet have felt them at all, and you may be as yet disposed to say with Nicodemus, “How can these things be?” but, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Submitted

CALLING ON GOD

On a communion Sabbath in the North, the felt presence of the Lord was so overpowering that the presiding minister found it difficult to speak. Many were melted down, for a ‘bright cloud had overshadowed them.’ Some time afterwards, a good man who was present remarked in his prayer that, at the dedication of Solomon’s temple, ‘the priest could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord.’ That remarkable prayer ended with the words: ‘As we now descend from the Mount give us grace that the tables of the law may be found broken in our hands.’

Pride and Self were two heart-evils against which those men employed all their spiritual weapons, and especially the weapon of ‘All Prayer.’ One much-tried man was once heard pleading with the Lord that He might ‘hold him up.’ But before he had gone very far with his plea, it came into his mind that he should also ask the Lord to hold him down as well!

This fear of sin reminds us of a man who once set off to pray, that the Lord, in a time of drought, might send rain on the earth. It was a warm summer day, and his secret place of prayer was on the top of a little hill clothed with trees. Arriving at his trysting place, and feeling weary, he lay down to rest. Immediately he fell asleep. He awoke with the sound of rain among the thick, leafy boughs which overshadowed him. There and then he blessed the Lord for sending refreshing rain, and for sending it before he had prayed. Had it come after his prayer he might have ascribed the given favour to the efficacy of his own prayer, and not to God’s mercy alone.

Indwelling sin in all its manifestations those men always spoke of as “The old man.” It was the hated and hurtful burden which clung to them to the end. Their growth in grace and holiness advanced in the measure in which sin became more oppressive and more exceedingly sinful. The well-known John MacKenzie of Gairloch was once asked by Principal John MacLeod as to how he was. ‘I am,’ said John, ‘an old man carrying an old man.’

“Gleanings of Highland Harvest”, M. Campbell

THE PREACHER

Now, Lord, inspire the preacher’s heart,
And teach his tongue to speak;
Food to the hungry soul impart,
And cordials to the weak.

Furnish us all with light and powers
To walk in Wisdom’s ways;
So shall the benefit be ours,
And Thou shalt have the praise.

Newton

A TIME TO BE BORN - A TIME TO DIE

Solomon states, “There is a time to be born, and a time to die.” It is not said, there is a time to live—as if the moment between those two events were too insignificant to be even mentioned. I wonder if God were to call you away tonight, are you all marked with the precious blood of Christ? Nothing but the blood is found to liberate the captive’s soul, and give joy and peace in believing. From Genesis to Revelation, wherever the blood is mentioned, there is a solitary greatness assigned to it. Daily remember that beautiful text, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you.”

Dear Friends:

Listed below are eight new titles that we have been able to add to our book list. Let us ask the Lord to bless the reading of His Word and books based upon His Word. Please address all correspondence to:

BIBLE TRUTH BOOKS

P.O. Box 2373

Kalamazoo, Michigan 49003

LEVITICUS

by Andrew Bonar

Retail - $7.95

Our Price - $5.25

Andrew Bonar wrote his notes on Leviticus for his personal use but was persuaded to publish them by his friends. His commentary, based on sound textual explanation, is written in a very simple style. The author is always careful to make spiritual application, for as he writes “The Gospel of the grace of God, with all that follows in its train, may be found in Leviticus. This is the glorious attraction of the book to every reader who feels himself a sinner.” 528 pages (hard cover)

PROFITING FROM THE WORD

by A. W. Pink

Retail-$1.95

Our Price - $1.25

This book addresses itself to the fundamental question: How much do we gain from our reading of the Holy Scriptures? The author deals in turn with the vital truths of sin, God, Christ, prayer, good works, obedience, the world, the promises, joy and love. 124 pages (paperback)

SAVED BY GRACE

by John Bunyan

Retail - $1.50

Our Price - $1.10

In this short work Bunyan expounds what it is to be saved, what it is to be saved by grace, who they are that are saved by grace, how it is demonstrated that they are saved by grace and why God chose to save sinners by grace. 73 pages (paperback)

NO NIGHT THERE

by Murdoch Campbell

Retail-$1.95

Our Price - $1.25

A collection of 14 devotional sermons on grace, faith, prayer, and eternal peace written in Campbell’s familiar simple style. 92 pages (paperback)

THE ETERNAL SONSHIP OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

by J.C. Philpot

Retail-$1.75

Our Price - $.90

Written during a time of controversy, Philpot clearly expounds the Biblical doctrine of the eternal sonship of the Lord Jesus. The author clearly felt the importance of this doctrine, for with denial of Christ, as true God, the integrity of the Holy Trinity is invaded. 93 pages (hard cover)

NEW LADYBIRD BOOK TITLES

Retail - $.79 each

Our Price - $.65 each

Child of the Temple (Samuel)

History of our Bible

St. Paul

Interestingly written for young children with many colorful full-page illustrations. Each has 51 pages (hard cover)

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