MISSION TIDINGS

GIFTS RECEIVED FOR MISSIONS IN SEPTEMBER 1981

CLASSIS EAST SOURCE AMOUNT

Friend in New Jersey Gift $ 100.00

CLASSIS MID WEST

Kalamazoo Mission Night 514.00

Unionville Collection 392.80

Unionville Collection 592.80

Grand Rapids Collection Gift 204.00

Bradford Pentecost Coll. 480.57

Bradford Collection Gift 123.00

Bradford Boxes & Catechism Classes 35.47

Bradford Sunday School 31.57

Friend in Norwich Gift 100.00

Friend in Michigan Gift 150.00

Hamilton Collection 1513.61

Norwich Ladies Aid Gift 361.00

Friend in Lynwood Gift 125.00

CLASSIS WEST

Friend in Pella Gift 25.00

CLASSIS FAR WEST

Lynden Guild Gift 1000.00

“Tabitha” Lethbridge Miscellaneous 31.50

TOTAL: $5,780.32

Dear Friends,

The time is again here to acknowledge all of you for the gifts that we have received for the Mission in the month of September. May the Lord truly bless you and your gifts.

It is encouraging to see in these sad days of materialism, that there is still a place in the hearts of some to bear the needs for the continuation of the Mission.

On the 30th of September, Mike and Carol Meeuwse left from Artesia, California to fly direct to New Guinea, which is a long journey, almost half way around the world.

May the Lord remember them in a special way. The first months they will spend in Jakarta to attend language school, which is important for all the workers who go to that country.

Tom and Meta, with their children, are doing well though they are kept very busy. Little Eric is taking school lessons already, which is difficult on the mission field where there is no school. His mother will help him with a correspondence course, which all means extra work for the parents.

May the Lord give wisdom and understanding to all our mission workers with all the work that they have to do, and that the Lord may visit them personally, instructing and comforting them amidst all the trials of life.

That they may see that many become pricked in the heart by the Holy Spirit, by the preaching and teaching of His Holy Word, for therein will a triune God be glorified. With the Lord all things are possible.

We read in the Word of God, that the Lord said, I will be inquired of the house of Israel to do it for them.

It says in Matthew 5:3, blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. They have nothing to boast of in themselves, but oh precious moments, when they may be given to boast in the Lord.

At present Mr. and Mrs. Louwerse are taking lessons in linguistics. There address is: Mr. and Mrs. Jan Louwerse, c/o Summer Institute of Linguistics, 7500 West Camp Wisdom Road, Dallas, Texas 75236 USA. They hope to be at this address, if all is well, until about the first of June, 1982.

Greetings in behalf of the Mission Board.

American General Mission Fund

Netherlands Reformed Congregations

of United States and Canada

John Spaans, Treasurer

2376 Shadow Lane N.E.

Grand Rapids, Michigan 49505

Tel. (616) 364-8379

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Gifts received for the Banner of Truth Tract Mission during the months of July, August and September, 1981.

American General Mission Fund $3,760.00

Grand Rapids Church 1,218.85

Franklin Lakes Church 393.00

Trinitarian Bible Society 210.00

Friends in Australia 34.15

Friends in England 5.00

Friends in Grand Rapids 25.00

Friends in Hudsonville 10.00

Friends in Indiana 5.00

Friends in Kalamazoo 100.00

Friends in Missouri 5.50

Friends in the Netherlands 10.00

Friends in Pennsylvania 25.00

Friends in Texas 1.00

Friends in Transvaal 50.00

Friends in Wisconsin 20.00

$5,872.50

The Banner of Truth Tract Mission hereby expresses its sincere appreciation for the gifts received. The Tract Mission is maintained by voluntary contributions.

HAPPY WITH THE LEAST

We read in God’s precious Word that after the resurrection of Christ from the dead, the disciples went fishing. It was only such a short time ago that Christ had manifested Himself to them. And yet the time seemed so long. They could not get enough of His fellowship, and they knew not where they could find Christ.

How strong their desire after His presence and communion was. We know the history, and at present that is not my subject to write about. I would say that at the command of Christ, they cast the net on the right side of the ship. The disciples had to lose out, and all their intellect had to become foolishness. The net became filled with fishes. Nothing of what they caught had to be thrown overboard. And there was not a little fish among them. These were one-hundred-fifty-three large fishes.

All that which God gives His people is great. By virtue of His great love, they are all great benefits which God grants His people. What Christ has obtained for His people, and what the Holy Spirit applies is so great, that it makes us small.

But now that expression, “Happy with the least”.

What is the meaning of that? We read in Matt. 18 that the Lord Jesus took a child and set him in the midst of His disciples, and that He then told them, “Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.” Become as little children. Also in this that we be happy with the least. It is said at times, “A child’s hand is soon filled.” When we become big and are big, alas, then it becomes different. I shall not enter deeper into that. All that is high among men is an abomination with God.

To become a child is to come down to the lowest level, to be brought into humiliation, to have forfeited all rights, and to have lost all claims. True conversion in the wider sense is a continuing enlightment by God the Holy Spirit. And that enlightment uncovers our darkness, our misery, our guilt and our sins. Turn thee yet again, son of man, and thou shalt see greater abominations and be led deeper and deeper into our fall in Adam. Destruction hath no covering, Job 26:6. Ah, how we would wish at times that a covering was placed upon it; that for once it was sufficient. But no, the Lord just continues.

It is so necessary because if there are no uncoverings, then there is no concern, and without uncoverings, there would be no revelations. The one is so closely connected with the other. Then God went up from Abraham. The queen of Sheba turned and went to her own country, I Kings 10:13.

Ah, what a lesson! They are mysteries. No, that is not spiritualizing like some people think. But those are the ways by which God guides and leads His people.

God’s way with His people here upon earth is so altogether different from what we had imagined it. At one time I heard an exercised child of God, who is now for some years already before the throne, say that he had looked forward all his life to retirement. “But” said he, “I have not yet obtained my desire, and I fear I shall never get that far.”

Well, that man was right. Even upon his deathbed it was still dark for a time. Ah, how deep that miserable sin of wanting to be like God has taken roots in our heart. It is so often rashly and thoughtlessly expressed that we have sinned away and forfeited everything. We have said so often that we are hell-worthy and condemnable.

But how far is the experience and the practice removed from our profession. How often they are words without knowledge, empty sounds which carry no weight. We can count the times that it is true. We are publicans in our profession and Pharisees in our heart. It happens so seldom during our life that there is a sense and realization that we have forfeited life and deserve death. That we have lost all right and claim upon the least blessing, but on the contrary are worthy of all misery, yea condemnation itself. Most of the time, we live as rightful claimants. It is only through the all-conquering grace of God in Christ that we lose all pretended rights, and with Jacob at the Jabbok, are stripped of our right. Zion is redeemed with judgment through an obtained, acquired, but also an applied right.

In justification, God’s elect in Christ become righteous and heirs of eternal life. Our righteousnesses are as filthy rags, and the perfect righteousness of Christ is imputed and applied to His people. It is a one-sided work of God for which the Triune God alone shall eternally receive the honor, and at the school where God’s children are brought, they must learn till the end what it means to be saved by grace. We read in God’s Word one time that David’s cup ran over. For special ways God also gives special grace, and He confirmed His inheritance when it was weary. At times there is a feast day in the life of God’s favorites so that it is confirmed:

“With the abundance of Thy house
We shall be satisfied,
From rivers of unfailing joy
Our thirst shall be supplied.”

In general, they receive only as much as necessary to be kept from despair and to be bound to God continually. We cannot be entrusted with anything. We are only spend-thrifts and forgetters of God’s benefits. We are more in danger in the enjoyment, than in the lack of it. We have the examples in God’s Word, and we must also experience it in our life.

The enjoyments are indispensable. David tells us in Ps. 27:13, “I had fainted unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” Yea, those people would faint and surely perish, if they were never given, nor ever allowed to draw water with joy out of the well of salvation. But they also learn that the with-holdings are profitable, so that their eyes would ever be toward the Lord, Ps. 25:15. God tries His people; often He lets them wait long, delays His coming for a long time, to bring them to the place where He wants them to be, and where otherwise they would never have come, Matt. 15:27, 28.

There have been times that tears of love ran down their cheeks, and later on they were glad, sometimes, if after weeks and months, a tear came into their eyes, not to merit something, or to be something with it, but because of the worthiness of God’s Being, and as a proof to them, that they have not yet been given over to the judgment of hardening.

Later on they must often acknowledge that they are unthankful, unfruitful, and unsusceptible. They must experience that on them no fruit shall grow to all eternity. The disciples said to Christ, “Lord, the tree which Thou cursedst is withered unto the roots.”

What a wonder it becomes when they may be visited with the “Dayspring from on high”, when they can no longer climb up; a wonder, when their hearts are touched once more, when the power of God’s Word is felt once more, when they are led once more into the truth, when they once more have a true longing for God, when their heart may be broken once more, when Christ becomes necessary once more in His offices and precious and amiable in His Person and work, when the wind of the Holy Spirit may blow upon their cold, unfeeling heart, that the spices thereof may flow out, when everything which for a long time seemed worthless to them, may have value once more, when God’s Spirit brings the wheels of their soul into motion once more, and the Spirit prays within them with groanings that cannot be uttered, when that Spirit shall bring to their remembrance everything Christ had told them but to which they had paid no more attention, and which has been forgotten for a long time already.

Happy with the least.

One thought about God, one impression of God, one word out of God’s mouth, one friendly token of love, one look of love, one token of His favor and their soul leaps for joy. The face of the earth changes. They begin to talk differently, they begin to pray differently, they begin to write differently. Everything becomes different both within and without.

The want becomes a want again, sin becomes sin again. The fountain opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, against all sin and all uncleanness obtains value again. They begin to cry again, they begin to desire again. Faith is exercised again and hope is revived, love is awakened again. The old become new again, their youth is renewed again like an eagles. The complaint becomes lively again, the harp which hung so long and so high on the willows, is given into their hand again, and they begin to proclaim again that the Lord is upright. He is my Rock and there is no unrighteousness in Him, Ps. 92:15, and then at their gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old. No, not old and new, but new and old, Songs of Sol. 7:13. The old ones shine again through the scent and the majesty of the new ones. And however long ago that was, yea, even though it seems to be dead, it revives and says, “I will love Thee, O Lord, my Strength”; yea, happy with the least, they experience that God could righteously keep back and withhold His blessings. It is all sovereign love and mercy. They do not deserve that God would return. They have made Him to serve with their sins, and they have wearied Him with their iniquities. They have grieved God’s Spirit and left Christ standing at the door and remained while they lay upon the bed of unconcern so that His head was filled with dew, and His locks with the drops of the night.

Now they acknowledge anew with all their heart that they are not worthy to be called His son. But all these blessings are proofs that God loves His people with an everlasting love, and that He shall love His own until the end. God’s covenant is unchangeable and unbreakable, and knows of no yielding and wavering.

And that joy is a foretaste of the eternal joy of heaven where all shall be perfect, but in that initial joy the joy of heaven lies guaranteed forever.

That which has become our life here, shall one day be our eternal life. There shall be no more want and no more change, but eternal joy shall be upon their head, and mourning and sighing shall flee away forever. There shall be fulness of joy in God’s presence, and at God’s right hand there are pleasures forever more.

Rev. Lamain

SONGS OF DEGREES

Psalm 133:1, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”

When the people of the Lord under the Old Testament dispensation returned homeward from the feasts which the Lord Himself had instituted, they sang, as the expositors inform us, among others also Psalm 133.

It is, as so many of the Psalms, a song of David, the man after God’s heart.

It is a song which tells us beautifully in a short poem about the communion of the saints.

Inspired by the Spirit of the Lord, God’s servant begins to ask our special attention for the things which he wishes to point out to Zion.

“Behold,” he begins our text. It is as if he calls to us, “Pay attention, list the things of which we have to testify in this word of the Psalm.”

“Behold”—it is something precious which we now wish to show you.

“Behold”—it is so desirable what we are going to tell you so that we indeed should keep the rich contents of this Psalm continually in mind.

“Behold”—it concerns the communion of God’s children among each other.

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.”

The poet speaks about brethren. Here are not meant brethren according to the flesh as our attentive reader will readily understand. However, the picture of this close communion is used, though, to illustrate the spiritual bond of fellowship which ought to exist among the Lord’s children.

How pleasant it can be if you come in a family where you still notice family ties as a bond of love. In our times of declension, the ripping apart of family ties, yes, even destroying, biting, and devouring also in many families, it is a wonder still if it becomes manifest:

How good and pleasant is the sight
When brethren make it their delight
To dwell in blest accord.

(Psalm 133, Psalter 370)

Well, that natural bond of love in a family points to the spiritual tie which, as a fruit of grace, must be manifested in the life of the Lord’s militant church on earth. Grace is a gift of God; grace has been merited by Christ; grace is poured out by the Holy Ghost in the hearts of people who cannot find the life in their own hands but must exclaim, “There is no hope” (Is. 57:10).

If more brotherly and sisterly love is to become evident in God’s Congregation, then that is possible only as a fruit of the Spirit. True communion can only be born of God, but also be established by Him alone.

Those brethren, says David, dwell together in unity. Yes, that is the way how it is supposed to be. Bound together by the tie of spiritual love; bound together unto one goal of life; bound together in unity of true faith. That is communion of the saints, fellowship of God’s people.

Dwelling together in unity also points to something that remains. It has in view unity of heart and purpose. The text states, “to dwell together in unity.” That means: not only confessing communion of the saints with the mouth, but to prove it in very deed. Words must be translated into actions.

It is profitable to point this out from to time. Why? Well, if we see each other but a few times, sometimes after years of separation, then we look most often at the outside of each other. But if we dwell together, we come to know each other’s shortcomings. And then it must prove in practise that we dwell together in unity. Then there will be ups and downs, mountains and valleys—but ever keep in mind at such times the Songs Hamma’aloth for they point out the way, the only way: Songs of Ascent going up to the Lord with our needs.

To learn to dwell together in unity continuously, perseveringly, oh, that is grace from heaven. If we receive an eye for this, we acknowledge the great and wondrous goodness of the Lord that He still keeps a Church on earth and gives some communion at times. Blessed, then, who may learn to deny himself and bear those who have received like precious faith.

“Good” and “pleasant” the poet calls such dwelling together in unity. If there is real dwelling together, it will come out in the open. Then it is good because it is a fruit of the work of the Spirit. It is also pleasant for then it becomes evident what Paul testified, “Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace” (II Cor. 13:11).

The Lord give the exercising of such communion among God’s people so that they who lack this grace, may become jealous for that which the Lord gave to His Church. Amen. Chilliwack, B.C.

Rev. A.W. Verhoef

THE KEEPING OF GOD’S PRECEPTS

Psalm 119:4 and 5, “Thou hast commanded us to keep Thy precepts diligently. O that my ways were directed to keep Thy statutes. “

We have seen the character of the Man of God. Let us mark the authority of God, commanding him to a diligent obedience. The very sight of the command is enough for him. He obeys for the command’s sake, however contrary it may be to his own will. But has he any reason to complain of the yoke? Even under the dispensation, which “gendereth unto bondage” most encouraging were the obligations to obedience— “that it may be well with them, and with their children for ever” (Deut. 5:24. Comp. Deut. 6:17, 18; 28:1, 2; Jer. 7:23). Much more, then, we, under a dispensation of love, can never want a motive for obedience! Let the daily mercies of Providence stir up the question—”What shall I render unto the Lord?” (Ps. 116:12). Let the far richer mercies of grace produce “a living sacrifice” to be “presented to the Lord” (Rom. 12:1). Let “the love of Christ constrain us” (2 Cor. 5:14). Let the recollection of the “price with which we were bought,” remind us of the Lord’s property in us, and of our obligations to “glorify him in our body, and in our spirit, which are His” (I Cor. 6:19,20). Let us only “behold the Lamb of God;” let us hear His wrestling supplications, His deserted cry, His expiring agonies—the price of our redemption; and then let us ask ourselves—Can we want a motive?

But what is the scriptural character of evangelical obedience? It is the work of the Spirit, enabling us to “obey the truth” (I Pet. 1:22). It is the end of the purpose of God, Who “hath chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love” (Eph. 1:4). It is the only satisfactory test of our profession (Matt. 12:33, John 14:15, 21).

Then let me begin my morning with the inquiry, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” “Teach me Thy way, O lord; I will walk in Thy truth; unite my heart to fear Thy name” (Acts 9:6, Ps. 86:11). Let me trade with all my talents for Thee, ever watchful, that I may be employed in Thy work; setting a guard upon my thoughts, my lips, my tempers, my pursuits, that nothing may hinder, but rather everything may help me, in keeping thy precepts diligently.

But why do I ever find the precepts to be “grievous” to me? Is it not that some indolence is indulged; or some “iniquity regarded in my heart;” or some principle of unfaithfulness divides my services with two masters, when I ought to be “following the Lord fully?” Oh! for the spirit of “simplicity and godly sincerity” in the precepts of God. Oh! for that warm and constant love, which is the main-spring of devoted diligence in the service of God. Oh! for a larger supply of that “wisdom which is from above,” and which is “without partiality and without hypocrisy!” (Jam. 3:17).

The Lord has indeed “commanded us to keep his precepts.” But, alas! where is our power? Satan would make the sense of our weakness an excuse for indolence. The Spirit of God convinces us of it, as an incitement to prayer, and an exercise of faith. If, Reader, your heart is perfect with God, you “consent to the law that it is good;” you “delight in it after the inner man” (Rom. 7:16, 22); you would not have one jot or tittle altered, mitigated, or repealed, that it might be more conformed to your own will, or allow you more liberty or self-indulgence in the ways of sin. But do you not sigh to think, that, when you aim at the perfect standard of holiness, you should, at your best moments, and in your highest attain ments, fall so far below it; seeing indeed the way before you, but feeling yourself without ability to walk in it? Then let a sense of your helplessness for the work of the Lord lead you to the throne of grace, to pray, and watch, and wait, for the strenghthening and refreshing influences of the Spirit of grace. Here let your faith realize at one and the same view your utter insufficiency, and your complete All-sufficiency (2 Cor. 3:5). Here behold Him, Who is ever presenting Himself before God as our glorious Head, receiving in Himself, according to the good pleasure of the Father (Col. 1:18, 19), the full supply for this and every successive moment of inexpressible need. Our work is not therefore left upon our own hands, or wrought out at our “own charges.” So long as “He hath the residue of the Spirit” (Mal. 2:15). “grace” will be found “sufficient;”—Divine “strength will bemade perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). “Without Him we can do nothing” (John 15:5); “Through Him, all things” (Phil. 4:14). Even the “worm Jacob shall thresh the mountains,” when the Lord says, “Fear not, I will help thee” (Isa. 41:14, 15).

In connecting this verse with the preceding, how accurately is the middle path preserved, equally distant from the idea of self-sufficiency to “keep the Lord’s statutes,” and self-justification in neglecting them! The first attempt to render spiritual obedience will quickly convince us of our utter helplessness. We might as soon create a world, as create in our hearts one pulse of spiritual life. And yet our inability does not cancel our obligation. Shall God lose his right, because sin has palsied our ability? Is not a drunken servant still under his master’s law? and is not the sin which prevents him from performing his duty, not his excuse, but his aggravation? Thus our weakness is that of an heart, which “cannot be subject to the law of God,” only because it is carnal, “enmity against God.” The obligation therefore remains in full force. Our inability is our sin, our guilt, and condemnation.

What then remains for us, but to return the mandate to heaven, acocmpanied with an earnest prayer, that the Lord would write upon our hearts those statutes, to which he requires obedience in His word?—”Thou hast commanded us to keep thy statutes diligently.” We acknowledge, Lord, our obligation; but we feel our impotency. Lord, help us: we look unto thee. “Oh that our ways were directed to keep thy statutes!” “Give what thou commandest; and then command what thou wilt.” Now, as if to exhibit the fulness and suitableness of the promises of the gospel, the commands and prayers are returned back again from heaven with promises of quickening and directing grace. Thus does the Lord fully answer His end with us. He did not issue the commands, expecting that we could turn our own hearts to them; but that the conviction of our entire helplessness might cast up upon Him, Who loves to be sought, and never will be thus sought in vain. And indeed this is a part of the “mystery of godliness,” that in proportion as we depend upon Him Who is alike, “the Lord our righteousness,” and our strength, our desire after holiness will increase, and our prayers become more fervent. He Who commands our duty, perfectly knows our weakness, and he who feels his own weakness is fully encouraged to depend upon the power of his Saviour. Faith is then the principle of evangelical obedience, and the promises of His grace enable us for duty, at the very time that we are commanded to it. In this view are brought together the supreme authority of the Lawgiver, the total insufficiency of the creature, the full provisions of the Saviour, and the all-sufficiency of “the God of grace.” We pray for what we want; we are thankful for what we have; we trust for what is promised. Thus “all is of God.” Chirst “is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last” (Rev. 22:13). Thus “grace reigns” triumphant. The foundation is laid in grace, and the headstone will be brought forth with shoutings, crying, “Grace, grace unto it” (Zech 4:7). The Saviour’s work is finished, and Jesus is crowned Lord of all for ever.

C. Bridges

FAITH

The Jews with thorns His temples crowned,
And lash’d Him when His hands were bound;
But thorns, and knotted whips, and bands,
By us were furnished to their hands.

They nailed Him to the accursed tree,
They did, my brethren, so did we.
The soldier pierced His side, ‘tis true,
But we have pierced Him thro’ and thro’.

See Thy God, His head bowed down,

Hear the man of sorrows groan!
For thy ransom, there condemn’d,
Stripp’d, derided, and blashphem’d;
Bleed the guiltless for th’ unclean,
Made an off’ring for thy sin.

Cast thy guilty soul on Him,
Find Him mighty to redeem:
At His feet thy burden lay,
Look thy doubts and cares away;
Now by faith the Son embrace,
Plead His promise, trust His grace.

J. Hart & A. Toplady

CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE

It is a lamentable fact that the Christian experience of our age is very superficial. It is a rare occurrence to hear today of inward struggles that bear any resemblance in depth or power to those recorded by Paul in Romans 7. The knowledge of sin is limited; the feeling of guilt is weak; the apprehensions of Divine grace are very imperfect.

But the superficial experience is not confined to converts—so-called—; it pertains to a large body of young and older Christians. They know nothing of the heights and depths of the Divine love which saints in other days have been wont to speak. They have little to say of an inward warfare between the flesh and spirit, of a wrestling and an agony as for life itself, which is so prominent in the experience of such men as Brainerd and Martyn. They seem equally ignorant of the Valley of Humiliation and the Delectable Mountains, which lay in the route over which Bunyan’s pilgrims travelled. They are hardly conscious of a real life within them, known to others, whose source is hid with Christ in God, and feel little of that mighty power given by an indwelling Spirit to overcome the world. The religion they have is little better than nominal. It leads to no stern self-denials, excites no enthusiasm, and inspires to no labours.

We are persuaded that much of this superficial experience is due to the light reading of the day, which has become the chief staple even in Christian families. It weakens both brain and heart. It simply amuses, and stirs neither thought nor feeling. It is unfavourable to the formation of earnest character. It has no sympathy with profound religious emotion, or with the strong doctrines of the New Testament. One who becomes addicted to this kind of reading soon cares for no other kind. The Bible is not relished and devotional works are dull and unattractive.

It is impossible that a vigorous Christian life can be sustained on such thin diet. The body needs wholesome food, and the soul needs it even more. Our fathers and mothers, whose experience was rich and whose characters were stable, had quite other fare. They daily studied the Word of God, and searched it as for hid treasure. They loved writings of good men, and found in them heavenly manna. O for something of the spirit of the Ephesian converts who, in token of the genuineness of their change, brought the books in which they had found delight, and burnt them!

Adapted

COMFORTED

When Hannah, press’d with grief,
Pour’d forth her soul in pray’r,
She quickly found relief,
And left her burden there:
Like her, in ev’ry trying case,
Let us approach the throne of grace.

When she began to pray,
Her heart was pain’d and sad,
But, ere she went away,
Was comforted and glad:
In trouble, what a resting-place
Have they who know the throne of grace!

She was not fill’d with wine,
As Eli rashly thought;
But with a faith divine,
And found the help she sought:
Though men despise, and call us base,
Still let us ply the throne of grace.

Numbers before have try’d,
And found the promise true;
Nor yet one been deny’d,
Then why should I or you?
Let us, by faith, their footsteps trace,
And hasten to the throne of grace.

Newton

NEARLY FIFTY YEARS ON THE LIST OF BEGGARS

Part I

Thus the well-known English writer, John Warburton, who is known among us as the author of “The Mercies of a Covenant God,” once wrote this to his son John. Before this he wrote: “My dear boy, I am very glad to notice in your last letter that you were placed on the list of beggars.” And then follows this: “O my dear boy, what an honor and what a grace to have been placed on the list of beggars. Every soul that appears on it shall withstand every storm, and gain the victory. You need not be ashamed to have been placed on it. I know the flesh has no desire for it, but what is the flesh; it is not a mouth, not yours, nor mine; we have found that time and again it is a sworn enemy of God and of the soul whose desire is always against the flesh, so that we cannot do as we would. I’ve been on the list of beggars for nearly fifty years and must make more use of it now than formerly. Let God be praised, that He keeps me begging at the door of grace, to instruct me, to teach me, to help me, to protect me, to care for me, and that He will never leave nor forsake me because my soul knows that I can do nothing without Him.”

Thus far this old minister. He wrote this to his son who formerly, as the lost son of Luke 15, had left his father’s house, but who was sought and arrested by God in the barracks at Plymouth, and who later, as an example of God’s sovereign grace, served the church of God as a minister.

It is already some years ago that I came in possession of the letters written by “father to son” whose contents have often struck me, especially the deep humility, the self-knowledge, the tender life, and the exulting and glorifying of the Triune God. If the Spirit of God would want to use these letters for our service, they could give us an impression of how far we are from the practice of godliness personally. From the beginning to the end it must be practiced. For everyone on the way to eternity, and also for all who labour in the vineyard of the Lord, it depends upon the practice. It would be against Scripture if we would despise the searching and study of God’s Word. The deceased minister and teacher, Rev. G.H. Kersten, who passed away in 1948, wrote in the Saambinder (our Dutch church paper) of Jan. 12, 1939: “We may not go to the pulpit unprepared, even though the Lord sometimes wants to teach His servants great lessons that they are thereby brought away from their studied sermon.”

The more knowledge we may obtain (I mean sanctified knowledge) the more we will learn to know how unlearned and ignorant we are. Also that proverb applies here: empty vessels rattle the louder. They are intolerable people, who want to let men hear how educated they are. In that respect it is also true that knowledge puffeth up. In the colleges also, future ministers are instructed in what we call practical theology, that is to say, in such matters as are daily needed to administer his office. If I was ever asked what kind of books I would recommend for practical theology, then in my foolishness I would say: above all for those hours take the eternal Word of God, the works of Hugh Binning, Calvin, Luther, Bullinger, Watson, Bunyan, Erskine, Jonathan Edwards, Comrie, Brakel, Justus Vermeer, Van De Groe and so many others, who were not inspired, but were enlightened by the Spirit of God. But also the letters of Rutherford, Huntington, Ledeboer, Philpot and Warburton, and there must be many more, but I mention only these that I know. That is practical instruction for heart and mind.

Those people were instructed by God in the right way and in the firm foundations of salvation, how God experimentally teaches His people to seek and find all their happiness and salvation in Christ. Those godly forefathers have placed a Triune God on the foreground; the Father as the motivating cause, the Son as the meriting cause, and the Holy Spirit as the applying cause of salvation. They maintained and placed the sovereignty of God in the true light, but also held fast to the responsibility of man.

By the blessing of the Lord, these works can discover unto us what we are missing, and that is so profitable. God teaches His people to pray, supplicate and beg. A person who is truly poor cannot stay sitting at home, he must get out and always hold his empty hands open to receive an alms. Ah yes, friends, God Himself must teach us to beg. By nature we are rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing. It indeed is as the Word of God says: “The poor useth entreaties, but the rich answereth roughly”. It is such a problem, such a secret, to truly become, be, and to remain poor in spirit. O people, just remember this for your whole life, that by nature we have no knowledge of God nor of Divine matters. We have no realization of anything any more, unless God opens our eyes. What then comes to the foreground first is, not how much we know, but how blind we are. Then it becomes, “Give me understanding all Thy paths to know.” Psalter No. 428:5.

By nature we are all Pharisees, standing in the front in the temple, and having nothing to do but to give thanks. But how can we come to the rear of the temple with the Publican? We cannot bring ourselves there. No, God must bring us there. The Publican had nothing but guilt and want. Still he was an unfortunate fortunate man. He could not see that for himself, yet that is the way it was. That man had no place anymore in the world. It was “O God,” that was the outpouring of his heart. Those people are drawn by God unto God. He knew that he was a sinner. And he had not picked that knowledge up from the street, nor read in in a book. No, it was fruit of divine instruction. He learned to know his sin and guilt out of the law; and in the light of the divine righteousness and holiness, he learned to know how great a sinner he was. That man did not expect to go to heaven; no, hell stood open for him. The Spirit of God had convicted him of sin, righteousness and judgment. He was deeply humbled, the Highness of God lay upon his heart. He was conscious of his great unworthiness and worthy of punishment. He did not dare to raise his eyes heavenward.

(to be continued)

Rev. W.C. Lamain

BE YE RECONCILED

Sinner, you have undone yourself, and plunged into the ditch of most deplorable misery, out of which you are never able to escape; but Jesus Christ is able and ready to help you, and He freely tenders Himself to you. Be your sins ever so many, ever so great, or of ever so long continuance, yet you shall be most certainly pardoned and saved, if you do not wretchedly neglect the offer that in the name of God is here made to you. The Lord Jesus calls you to look to Him and be saved. Come unto Him, and He will in no wise cast you out. Yea, He beseeches you to be reconciled. He cries in the streets; He knocks at your door. He invites you to accept Him and live with Him. If you die, it is because you would not come to Him for life. Do not stand off because of your unworthiness. I tell you, nothing can undo you but your own unwillingness.

Choose the laws of Christ as the rule of your words, thoughts and actions. There is no getting to heaven by a partial obedience. It is not enough to take up the cheap and easy part of religion, and let alone the duties that are costly and self-denying. A sincere convert, though he makes conscience of the greatest sins and weightiest duties, yet he makes true conscience of little sins and of all duties. You must choose Christ’s laws for all times, for prosperity and adversity. If you would be sincere in closing with the laws and the ways of Christ, study the meaning, and breadth, and extent of them. Remember that they are spiritual; they reach the very thoughts and inclinations of the heart; so that, if you will walk by this rule, your very thoughts and inward motions must be under government. You must take the strait gate, the narrow way, and be content to have the flesh curbed from the liberty it desires.

Alleine

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