MISSION TIDINGS

GIFTS RECEIVED FOR MISSIONS IN FEBRUARY 1983

CLASSIS EAST SOURCE AMOUNT

Clifton Collection $ 1017.00

Franklin Lakes Sunday School 539.00

Friend in Prospect Park Gift 10.00

Friend in Paterson Gift 30.00

Friend in Gables Gift 100.00

Bradford Calendars 42.38

Bradford Christmas Coll. 612.90

Bradford Sun. School Boxes 24.10

Bradford Catechism Class

Boxes 50.27

Bradford Coins saved 15.35

Bradford, in collection Gift 20.00

Bradford, in collection Gift 20.00

Bradford, in collection Gift 500.00

Friend in Norwich Gift 200.00

In Grand Rapids Church

Collection Gift 100.00

Friend in Michigan Gift 150.00

Norwich Ladies’ Aid Sale 817.71

Norwich Calendars 321.00

Norwich proceeds Calendars 214.00

Norwich Cans and

Donations 4647.29

CLASSIS MID WEST

Rock Valley Ladies’ Aid Miscellaneous 20.00

Friend in Sioux Center Gift 200.00

Friends Miscellaneous 15.50

CLASSIS FAR WEST

Chilliwack Calendars 600.00

TOTAL: $10,266.50

Dear friends,

Herewith we wish to thank everyone in behalf of the Mission Board for your generous and faithful support. May the Lord give light, wisdom and direction for the weighty decisions that the Mission Board is confronted with; with regard to beginning a new mission field. There have been many puzzling ways in the past and also disappointments. Sometimes we think that we see a little hope arising.

May the Lord remember our mission workers.

The Moerdyks are still in the Netherlands, the Meeuwse’s in New Guinea, last and not least, the many young people of the Grand Rapids church who continue their mission efforts at the Bethlehem Mission in Baldwin, Michigan.

Let us watch and pray, that is the instruction that the Lord has given to one and all.

We also have an article translated from the “Paulus”.

American General Mission

Netherlands Reformed Congregations

of United States and Canada

John Spaans, Treasurer

R.R. #1 Box 212

Rock Valley, Iowa 51247

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Gifts received for the Banner of Truth Tract Mission during the months of January, February, and March, 1983:

American General Mission $ 2,820.00

Trinitarian Bible Society 365.00

Friends 1,258.00

Total $ 4,443.00

The Banner of Truth Tract Mission hereby expresses its sincere appreciation for the gifts received.

The Tract Mission is maintained by voluntary contributions.

MISSION NEWS

From the February 1983 issue of the “Paulus”

The mission work continues through weal and woe. There are also disappointments, which at times are discouraging. The work in the church of God is passing through tribulation and strife. We read in the New Testament, that the King Himself writes: “In the world ye shall have tribulation”, but He has said more: “But be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Then this work cannot be idle in the Lord. The King of the church stands firm for His own work. May this be our strength in the mission work, also as we have entered a new year.

I may inform you again of a few things in behalf of the mission Deputation.

The family of Rev. Vreugdenhil has returned to Irian Jaya. Although Rev. Vreugdenhil still has bother of high blood pressure, he nevertheless had to return, where otherwise his license would run out. May the Lord give further recovery, and bless his labors. The Looyen family hopes to be on furlough in February.

It has pleased the Lord to richly bless our mission work in Irian Jaya, yet there are also disappointments. We have received word that some baptized Christians, from the young congregations, have taken part in the heathen feast-offerings. Although we have to wait for more information, it is clear, that there is a returning into heathendom. It is evident that also in Irian Jaya, even as in the Netherlands, the separation between life and death goes right through the visible church. We heartily recommend this case to you in your prayers.

As far as the work in Igede is concerned, D.V. the new hospital will be officially opened this spring, possibly about the middle of March. Rev. L. Blok and Dr. G. Nieuwenhuis will represent the Deputation at this important ocassion. The government of Benue State, the Nigerian State, to which the Igede territory belongs, will also be present.

Mr. and Mrs. Van Bruggen were blessed with the birth of a son. But shortly after he was born, he had to undergo an operation. Happily all is well now.

The furlough period of the Dr. Fahner family will terminate at the end of January, and then they hope to return to the mission field for another term.

The Deputation has not been able to find a capable administrator yet, to take the place of Mr. Van Walsum. Presently Mr. VanDerKooy is doing this work. The function of an administrator in the present transfer situation is of great importance. Elsewhere in this issue you can read more about this matter.

The work in Izi also continues, in spite of the many cases of sickness among our mission workers. Sister Renes has not been able to return to the work which she loves, on account of her poor health.

Presently Mrs. Sonneveld is in the Netherlands. At the end of January the family of Rev. Sonneveld are expecting an addition to their family. On account of certain complications the doctors advised that the baby should not be born in Nigeria, but in Holland. Rev. Sonneveld hopes to be with his wife in January.

Mr. Moerdijk is on furlough in Holland, after having been separated for some months, he is now re-united with his family.

The Visser family were blessed with the birth of a son in November. They returned to Izi in the first part of January. Happily all is well now. Various concerns still remain. May the Lord make all things well.

There are also problems in regard to the obtaining of a visa for Mr. DeBloois, who hopes to go to Izi as a translator. To obtain a visa for him is not as easy as we thought. We sincerely hope that the Lord may open the way.

In principle, the Deputation has decided to expand the mission work in Izi. There are still large territories there, where thousands of people are living, who have never yet come in contact with the Word of God. So many people are still living in the darkness of heathendom and who all have a precious soul created for eternity.

The fields are white for the harvest. May the Lord also give laborers in the harvest at that place.

First of all the Deputation is considering to begin with an instructor or minister, who will have to make a start; therefore you can find in this “Paulus” a call or summons to that end. And besides that, we will need our own missionary minister. The shortage of ministers in our congregations is great. It will not be easy to find a minister for Izi. However, the Lord stands above everything! We seriously draw this matter to your attention.

There are also disappointments in South Africa.

The drought has drastically affected the farm work. Fortunately they had some rain now and the situation is more favorable than last year. Further, mission work is difficult on account of a shortage of evangelists. To our great disappointment one of the evangelists has withdrawn himself, whereby the problems have become greater.

Presently we are considering training a few evangelists for the ministry. This is an endeavor which must be done with great precaution and prudence.

In conclusion, we want to inform you about the home front. On the 17th of December our Deputation meeting was held at the old peoples home, “Ne-bo” at Zwinjndrecht, with the mission workers who were in Holland, and with our oldest mission deputy, Rev. G. A. Zijderveld, who has retired from the mission board. He was a member of the mission board for 23 years. He had his own place among us and he had his own dowry. He has served in the mission work with all the love of his heart. Whereas he now has become an emeritus minister he felt the time had come to lay down his work as a mission deputy. May the Lord grant him and his wife a blessed evening time in their life. Undoubtedly, he will still continue to be interested in the mission work.

And now that I have come to the close of this article, may I recommend the mission work to you, by renewal, in your love and prayers.

Rev. J.J. Van Eckeveld

OUR ENGAGEMENT

Dangerous Compromise!

Part IV

Naturally there can also be a case when the one to whom we wish to join ourselves, promises to comply with the thoughts and wishes of the other, and to place him or herself under the doctrine and discipline of the Christian truth. Then they have at least spoken together about this important matter of religion.

That is better than the preceding case in which we spoke of those who enter wedlock easily, minimizing the question of religion, and with a groundless, and over-confident optimistic hope for a change of opinion in the future.

Still also in this we must be careful.

Joining the church of the Lord must always be an honest and sincere commitment. We may never do this with reservations. When someone joins a church only because one’s boy friend or girl friend belongs to that church he or she is not entirely honest. One must be thoroughly convinced of the truth of the doctrine of the Lord before one joins the church. If we only join the church of God to be able to marry the person of our choice, then such an affiliation is not a true relationship of the heart.

In this connection we can point again to a few Biblical examples. We are thinking of the history of Dinah.

Hamor and Shechem were willing to accept the terms of Jacob’s family in the matter of religion. But why? Then read what Scripture tells us of the motive for this transition:

“And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying, These men are peaceable with us; therefore let them dwell in the land, and trade therein; for the land, behold, it is large enough for them; let us take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give them our daughters. Only herein will the men consent unto us for to dwell with us, to be one people, if every male among us be circumcised, as they are circumcised. Shall not their cattle and their substance and every beast of theirs be ours? only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us.”

This then was the motive of the transition of the Shechemites to the church of Jacob, so that the marriage of Shechem and Dinah could take place. Such a motive is not pure. The Lord will not command His blessing upon it. Therefore we should be careful with such a transition. It may only then take place when the person that wants to change is personally convinced of the truth and wants to make the change, regardless of a possible marriage or other matters.

Only then can a tie with one who is of another persuasion be responsible when the other abandons that other persuasion with conviction, and wholeheartedly wants to place himself under the doctrine of the Lord, and wants to conduct himself according to God’s Word.

The fact that we give this matter so much attention is related to the first and second causes for the institution of marriage. Therein we read that they should faithfully assist one another, and that they bring up the children, that the Lord shall give them, in the true knowledge and fear of God to His glory.

When we speak of assisting each other in matters belonging to life eternal, we must ask whether it is possible if in these matters there is such a great difference of opinion. Both during our engagement and in matrimony we must be able to speak very open-heartedly about those things that concern the Kingdom of God. Among other things that must certainly be included in “assisting each other in matters belonging to life eternal”. It is very clear that here a difference of opinion regarding fundamental issues becomes a gulf that separates husband and wife, and makes true unity impossible.

Moreover there can be no bringing up of children in the knowledge and fear of God when the father and mother differ from each other in the matter of religion. Our Biblical doctrine must influence our entire life. There is not only Christian doctrine, but also Christian life.

In the education of the children questions arise that concern both.

Just think of these questions: Go to a Christian school or not? Go to catechism or not? Go to church or not? To say nothing about all those other matters that come up when bringing up children, as the means and opportunities for recreation in which the difference between the parents clearly reveals itself, and of course causes in the family all kinds of tensions that undermine the marriage and often causes irreparable harm to the happiness of the children.

Since experience teaches that even when there is a oneness in fundamental matters, often tension-causing

differences reveal themselves in regard to practical questions, what must it be then in a family where there is an essential difference of opinion between father and mother regarding those things that are of utmost importance in our life?

The result of such marriages is then an almost hopeless confusion, in which the peace of matrimonial life often is disrupted, and of which the children are the victims.

In this connection let us also think of what we read in the book of Nehemiah where we are told of Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon and of Moab, whose children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and half according to the language of each people, but could not speak in the Jews’ language. That is the result of mixed marriages.

That is the way it will undoubtedly go when such a mixture takes place. Usually the result is that they cannot speak the “Jews’ “ language; and therefore we do well to stay far away from any mingling.

Rev. A. Vergunst

A LESSON TO BE TAKEN TO HEART

Part II

Our sins make a separation between the Lord and our soul. There are so many little foxes in our lives that spoil the vines, and we become aware that only the greater Samson can catch them.

While I recently sat in the train, then from the train I could see four pretty foxes running in the woods. In the winter those animals have such beautiful tails. Indeed, it was a pretty sight. But at the same time I thought: it would be an endless task to go after them, to try and catch them. They would sooner catch me, than I could catch them. And thus it is also with sin, we are always caught before we realize it.

O beloved, how narrow that path-way unto life is! God Himself must take our heart shall we ever be able to give it unto Him. It is only the fruit of that all-conquering grace of God in Christ, in our hearts, that makes us choose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, esteeming the reproaches of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt (Hebrews 11:25-26).

Huntington once wrote: They are blessed souls to whom the police comes after the least transgression and who cannot live on, except their soul is cleansed and sanctified in the blood of Christ and they may again receive boldness and access to the throne of God. The plague of our hearts must continually be discovered unto us by the Spirit of God.

Our blindness and foolishness is so great. The word “sin” is often mentioned and is many times upon our lips, but ah, the practise of our life teaches, that it is so deeply hid. And when sin is not discovered, we can have no sorrow because of it, but neither have any strife against it nor a desire to be delivered form it.

Abraham, the father of the faithful, was richly favored by God inwardly and outwardly. God had called him when he was 75 years old. God had made His covenant with him, that covenant of grace with its rich content, namely: “I am God, even thy God,” was confirmed in him. In his life he had many meetings with God.

Outwardly God had promised him the land of Canaan and had blessed him with great riches. But how loose he was from all his worldly goods. It was easy for him to let Lot choose. The only thing he desired in this world was to have a piece of ground for his burial. And what was the cause of this? God had promised him, “I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward”; but also as the apostle declares it in Hebrews 11:10, “He looked for a city which hath foundations, whose Builder and Maker is God.” It is something to become jealous of. In virtue of the fall in Adam, we are all alike, and we cleave to the dust; but because Abraham got so much from heaven there was little room in his heart for what is here below.

We are only susceptible for one thing; when that which is earthly has the upper hand there is no place for what comes from above. We should be bound unto heaven at all times and cry unto God that we would not give our heart unto something which cannot fulfill nor satisfy us. We should seek that good and lasting thing which shall remain eternally. A Triune God is the greatest riches. Therefore the sigh of our soul should daily be: “Keep me from discontent and envy free”.

Rev. W.C. Lamain

CHRIST’S CUSTOM ON THE SABBATH DAY

Part II

When we shall consider then, in the third place, that when Christ went into the synagogue from Sabbath to Sabbath, this was an example for us. In Acts 11:26, we read that the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch. Very likely this name was given to them by the Gentiles out of derision. These people “spoke”, “walked” and “lived” as Christ had spoken, walked and lived. They showed themselves to be His followers. However, they accepted this name, which was used in contempt, as a title of honor, given to them by the direction of God. Since that time all those who believed in Christ were known by this name. Accordingly Agrippa said to Paul, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” And Peter wrote: “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.” A true Christian is a living member of Christ. By nature we all live separate from Christ; not one natural man, therefore, is a Christian. To be a Christian we must be born again. God the Holy Spirit calls the chosen ones from death to life and unites them to Christ. The Holy Spirit imparts to them that true faith by which they exercise living fellowship with Christ, so that they bring forth fruit in Him. Christ lives in the Christian and the Christian lives in Christ. Christians partake of His anointing.

By the love of God imparted to them, the chosen ones are heartily and sincerely united to God, but also to Christ. Everything they do and say should clearly show that they have been anointed by God’s Spirit, and as a result, are following in the footsteps of Christ. We may have an orthodox and grand confession, but if we do not live in conformity to it, we may well doubt the soundness of our spiritual state. The tree is known by its fruits. When the fear of God dwells in the heart it follows as a matter of course that a person manifests this in his daily conduct.

True Christians love Christ. Be they ever so wretched in themselves, they nevertheless lift up their heads where Christ is. They utter heartfelt complaints about the lack of love in their soul, and they are very happy when even a small place is found in their heart for Christ. Their constant prayer is, “O that my ways were directed to keep Thy statutes.” And with the Bride their constant desire is, “Draw me, we will run after Thee.”

It is the desire of their heart to imitate Christ in all things, to please Him, and to be like Him. They are ready to deny themselves, to take up their cross and to follow Christ. Truly, these are the marks of a true disciple of Christ. Oh, that walking in Christ, of which Paul speaks in Colossians 2:6, is a matter they greatly desire! All their desires and affections are fixed upon this. It keeps them close to heaven’s doors, and moves them to come to Christ by day and night, not to merit anything by it, or to obtain a name by it, but only because of that deep regard for that Blessed Being, and because of the love with which Christ loved them.

It is a sacred matter of course for God’s children, to desire to follow Him, also in respect to the ordinances of God, and this flows from their affection to Christ. They become attached to these ordinances with their whole heart. The Spirit of God personally draws them to the pure ministry of the Gospel and to the house of God. They are not satisfied with lifeless formalities, nor are they concerned about wood or stone. Their souls desire to follow in the footsteps of the flock, and they want to dwell near the homes of the shepherds. As newborn babes they are very desirous after the sincere milk of the Word. Their life is dedicated to the service of God. They are willing to sacrifice all for it. When these regenerated ones are in the enjoyment of their first love, they would just as soon have it so they could go to the house of God every single day to keep holy day with the multitude. For them the world is gone and the worship of God is all.

My spirit longs, yea, even faints,
Thy sacred courts to see;
My thirsting heart and flesh cry out,
O living God, for Thee.

They long for that Manna which came down from heaven and which is distributed among those who hunger. They thirst for the water of life, which is Christ Himself. And regardless of the extent of their Christian experience, they are drawn again and again to the house of the Lord to behold the beauty of the Lord and to enquire in His temple.

They must hear the voice of God continually, and they must learn more of the eternal thoughts of God revealed in Christ Jesus. God permits Himself to be found in His appointed ordinances. There He reveals Himself to His people as a God of complete salvation. There life’s riddles are solved. There they receive strength for the spiritual warfare. There they receive answers from God. There they are built up in their most holy faith. There their hope is enlivened and their love is animated. There they may also taste that the Lord is good. God dwells there, where Zion sings praises to God. There the people of God assemble. There is set forth the eternal good pleasure of God. There are the sacraments, which assure them of God’s unending grace, and which are administered as signs and seals of His covenant. There they find rest for their soul. There they have moments in which they may taste a little of those pleasures which they will one day enjoy on that perfect Sabbath above. Oh, when God is thus glorified to the utmost, then their hearts shout for joy. Then they join with the poet of Psalm 89, and declare:

My song for ever shall record
The tender mercies of the Lord.
Thy faithfulness will I proclaim,
And every age shall know Thy Name.

Application

And now, beloved, I shall add a few words for application before we conclude.

Oh, how blessed and glorious it is to know, to love, to adore and to imitate Christ. To know Him is life eternal, and the actual and real union with Him is salvation to a lost, guilty and condemned sinner. In Adam our Covenant head we are all guilty and lost, having no hope or expectation. But now it has pleased God, in His sovereign good pleasure, to give His Son. By His active and passive obedience He was to satisfy Divine justice, He was to bear the punishment, He was to purge away iniquity and reinstate into communion with God. When the old Simeon was privileged to hold the child Jesus in his arms, he exclaimed, “Mine eyes have seen Thy salvation!” And when his arms embraced Him, and his heart was filled with love for that adorable Person, then his lips could not remain silent.

O friends, do you know that Person, too? Have you ever been cut off from Adam and ingrafted into Christ and united to Him? Has the glory of His person ever been revealed to your soul? Has the perfection of His Mediatorial office ever been manifested to your heart? O, do consider that we must have a God for our heart and a Surety for our sins, which reach to heaven. Christ is the only Name given under heaven whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12. Without Him we shall perish for ever.

By nature man lives on in this world without God. And now I am not thinking only of those who have turned their backs to God and religion, and openly show their enmity by carrying on the conflict against the Lord and against His anointed. I shall rather restrict myself to those who still attend the preaching of the Word. Alas! there are those among us for whom it is a burden to go to church even once on the Lord’s day. They dare not stay home because of their parents, but these boys and girls now think: “When after a while I shall be free, then I shall go my own way; then I am going to do as I please.” There are others who do not have to be forced to go to church, but they sit there like Galleo, who cared for none of those things.

The Word of God does not affect them; it never affects them. There are wives who attend the services to please their husbands, and there are men who do not dare to stay away because of their wives. But the worship of God is really a burden to them. It is a blessing for them when they can leave the church again, so they can pass the remainder of the day in sin.

There are people who come to church, but are offended because of one thing now, and another thing the next time. In fact, some sit there to do nothing but criticize, and inwardly oppose the Word of Truth. They do not want to hear of that strait gate, of that narrow way which leads to life everlasting. They make themselves believe that the way to heaven is much easier than what is presented to them.

We may indeed feel deeply sorry for all these people, the one as well as the other. Either concealed or openly they manifest their enmity to God and against the doctrine of free grace. It should be a matter of humility and joy to them that they may still hear the offer of salvation, but instead they deliberately harden their heart, and ripen themselves for eternal damnation. It is really terrible to put it in words, but by nature poor mortal man plainly shows that he is not interested in the welfare of his immortal soul, and that he wanders away from God farther and farther, and has no desire after the knowledge of the ways of God.

Deeply to be pitied are they who are so blinded and deluded by sin that they wilfully turn themselves away from the paths of life. Some of them even dare to say: “I can’t do anything about it anyway”! or, “I am going to go lost soon anyway!” Oh, what a thing to say! Underneath it all, however, this is nothing but enmity. You need not think that anyone having any realization of the things of eternity will talk so coolly and so unfeelingly about them. Let a person be honest about it and declare what concern it really is of his by nature to be reconciled to God!

Where did you ever become deeply distressed because of the fact that you are lost? Does it concern you that you are lost in the eyes of God as comprehended in your covenant head Adam? Does it oppress you that you live under the Gospel but disregard that great salvation which is proclaimed to you? Point out the places, if you will, where you acknowledged the justice of God and pleaded for grace by day and by night. Where did you prostrate yourself before God as an unworthy one, to beg like a dog for a crumb from under the Lord’s table? When were you happy that it was Sunday, so that you could go to church to hear the Word of God? When did you go praying to the house of God, beseeching the Lord to sanctify the truth to your heart?

O, no longer put the blame on God! While on this earth you must acknowledge your guilt before God. Your enmity must be broken, friends. O, do consider this, for else the day will come when you shall have to surrender to God. You will be beaten with many stripes, if you have known the way, but have not walked in it. Remember, all the labors God has bestowed on you, although you now tread them underfoot, will all testify against you. They will one day be required at your hand, and then you shall not be able to answer one question in a thousand.

O, all you indifferent, impenitent Sabbath breakers, as well as you who are superficial and unfeeling, I pray you, surrender yourselves to God, ere it be for ever to late. May the Lord yet sanctify the truth to your hearts. It is still possible to be saved; it is not yet too late. The door is not yet locked for the night. Today if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.

Thousands and millions are deprived of the privilege which you may still enjoy. The Lord grant for His own sake, by His Spirit, that the word of warning which came to you at this time, may yet break your hard hearts. If you were to acknowledge your guilt before God, then you would experience that there is forgiveness with God in the blood of Christ, that He may be feared. Make use of the means, and may the Lord sanctify it to your hearts. Place yourselves along the way where Jesus passes by, as Bartimaeus once did. He may yet be moved with compassion, and hear you, to deliver you, purify you, and sanctify you.

But you who are satisfied with the form of godliness have need of this, too. All of you who have a religion, but live on without God; all of you who want to be considered Christians, but lack the real union with Christ by faith. To the carnal Jews and self-righteous Pharisees, the Lord Jesus at one time said: “Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

Even though we have attended a sound Gospel ministry since early childhood, and persevered up to now, this is indeed commendable, but not enough for eternity. We must be born again, and acknowledge before God that we are guilty and condemned. We must be taught the spirituality of the law, so we may see and know the greatness of our sins. In other words, we must confess before God that we are Sabbath breakers. All our religion and piety must come to naught. Only then can we feel a real need for that perfect Saviour, for that Christ, who as His custom was, went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day. Oh, that precious Jesus carried the burden of sin and bore the anguish of sin during His sojourn here on earth. He shed many a tear on this account. He wept before the gates of Jerusalem, and in Gethsemane

His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Oh, what a price He had to pay to reconcile His people to God. May God’s dear Spirit yet work mightily in your hearts. As an enemy we must be reconciled to God, and as an ungodly one, we must be justified.

May all of you who have come to the true knowledge of your sin and guilt out of the law of God be counted worthy to submit to the justice of God, but also to find yourself utterly condemned by that justice. Only then you will need Christ; only then He will be precious and suitable and desirable to you. Consider that without Christ there can be no deliverance, no peace, no rest, and no permanent happiness for you. O, do seek for that stedfast assurance of your union to Christ with weeping, supplication and prayer. In Him alone can you obtain forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace, but also the true enjoyment of the spiritual Sabbath.

People of God, your Surety and Mediator honored the ordinances of His Father. Would you then be so lifeless and indifferent when you attend upon them? May the love of Christ cause your hearts to burn within you, but also induce and impel you to love Him in return. If we are partakers of the Divine nature, then the honor of God will be uppermost in our hearts. Christ fulfilled the law also for you, as it regards the Sabbath. Therefore you should constantly seek reconciliation for your Sabbath-breaking in the blood of this Surety. Constantly take hold of the horns of the altar by faith. Look to Him for strength to mortify sin and to live unto righteousness.

And finally, seeing Christ gave you an example by His own life, let this arouse you to walk as He walked. Paul could write to the Corinthians: “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”

In the keeping of God’s commandments there is great reward. May God keep us from walking in ways of our own choice. O, let us never place ourselves above the ordinances of God. Our souls will dwell in a dry land. And we are so inclined to look at this one and that one of God’s people, and take then-life as a standard for ourselves, and set them as an example. Consider, however, that God’s people are worthy to be imitated only insofar as they are followers of Christ—and no further. God’s Word is our only standard and Christ the perfect example.

Israel in the wilderness had to step outside of their homes every day to gather manna, and in the same way we must leave our homes and put aside self in order to keep the Sabbath. When Anna was eighty-four years old, she was still to be found in the temple, and there she found Christ. People of God, never miss an opportunity of attending upon the pure means of grace. God has bound Himself to them, and He has promised that He will cause His people to rejoice in His house of prayer. May the ordinances of God become dearer and more precious to us. May we feel our need of them more and more, and may God reveal Himself to us by means of His ordinances. Christ went as was His custom into the synagogue on the Sabbath day.

And people of God, the small and the great, one day the time will come when we shall no longer worship as we do here. Here the services begin but also end. Erelong we shall worship where the services begin but never end, where God Himself is the temple and the glory. Amen.

Rev. W.G. Lamain

A QUESTION ABOUT THE THANKSGIVING

AFTER BAPTISM

Some time ago a letter was sent me which contained a difficult question. It was a question regarding the meaning of the thanksgiving which follows upon the baptism of our children. You will find this prayer on page 55 in back of the Psalter. There have often been questions about this subject. The question asked in this instance was as follows:

“Because you are dealing with the subject of baptism in the Banner of Truth, I hope you will answer a question, or maybe I should say, clear up a difficulty that I have with the form for infant baptism. What I am especially referring to is the language used in the closing prayer.... “Almighty God and merciful Father, we thank and praise Thee, that Thou hast forgiven us, and our children, all our sins, through the blood of Thy beloved Son Jesus Christ.” .... When we pray this, it is not as if we are singing a psalm or reading Scripture; no! it is a prayer that (to my way of thinking) is to be taken literally and personally, here and now!How can we do that?”

We know that this closing prayer has provided much food for discussion, both in the past, and, as you can see, also today. It is not wrong to ask questions, and we hope that the Lord may give a little light to explain it. The opinions regarding this prayer have varied considerably. Some ministers did not want to use it, and instead closed with a free prayer. Some argued that the authors of this form believed that all children were born again when baptized; this is, of course, not true!

To understand this wording of the thanksgiving, we must look at the whole form of baptism from beginning to end. The form can be divided into two parts: the doctrinal part and the ritual part. The ritual part is the baptism itself. The doctrinal part can again be divided into three parts, agreeing with the order of the catechism: misery, deliverance and gratitude. The form first speaks about the misery in which we with our children have come, although our children do not realize it at the time. It then deals with deliverance, mentioning the promises of a Triune God Who delivers. In the third place gratitude is emphasized, and we are directed to the responsibility in baptism.

This order must be kept in mind so that we may understand the meaning of our fathers in this form of baptism. Baptism was one of the two sacraments which the Lord gave to the New Testament church, and we will first say something about this sacrament. In his catechism book Hellenbroek asks: “What are the sacraments?” The answer reads: “Signs and seals of God’s grace. Romans 4:11. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of faith.” (Page 82, Q. & A. 2)

We will also quote Rev. Kersten about Holy Baptism, taken from his well-known Dogmatics, volume II, page 260 (translated). He wrote, “By baptism with water the benefits of the covenant of grace are signed and sealed. The water signifies the blood and the Spirit of Christ, for reconciliation of the guilt and cleansing of the pollution of the sin of His elect.. ...Christ is all and in all (Colossians 3:11), and He wants to signify and seal this by Holy Baptism. Yea, Father, Son and Holy Ghost testify as with an oath to be the God of eternal salvation of those who by nature are children of wrath like all others, but whose names are written in the Book of Life. It is not the water of baptism which makes partakers of the benefits of the covenant, but the Holy Ghost. Not all who receive the sign of baptism inherit the benefits signified by baptism, but those who, as Paul expressly says, by one Spirit are baptized into one body. The meaning of the sacrament of baptism, closely related to the signs and portrayed by them, is so great that in one word it seals everything which the lost sinner needs to salvaiton.”

This is the meaning of baptism, and it states very clearly that this is not applied to all who are baptized. But now we will go a step further in the form. The first question directed to the parents is: “Whether you acknowledge, that although our children are conceived and born in sin, and therefore are subject to all miseries, yea, to condemnation itself; yet that they are sanctified* in Christ, and therefore as members of His Church ought to be baptized?” (At the bottom of the page an explanation is given: *My children. Ezekiel 16:21. They are holy. I Corinthians 7:14.)

First of all, “sanctified in Christ” means the objective sanctification in Christ of all elect children. In baptism it is not the subjective, but the objective grace in Christ which is sealed for all His people. (See Comrie in Examen van Tolerantie 6,283). Secondly, the word “sanctified” has a more common meaning, namely, to be separated. Under sanctified or separated, we do not only understand the objective separation of the elect in Christ from eternity, but also in the sense of the separation of all baptized persons. See Calvin’s commentary on I Corinthians 7:14, where Paul said, “Else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.” He wrote, “Therefore this passage is a noteworthy one, and based on the profoundest theology; for it shows that the children of believers are set apart from others by a certain special privilege, so that they are regarded as holy in the church.”

Thus this second meaning of the word “sanctified” indicates a separation from the world. Children born under the truth are baptized and therefore sanctified, that is separated from the world. After this rather extensive explanation of the meaning of baptism and the word “sanctified”, we can proceed to the answer of our question, which was, “How are we to understand the thanksgiving after baptism?”

We read there: “Almighty God and merciful Father, we thank and praise Thee, that Thou hast forgiven us, and our children, all our sins, through the blood of Thy beloved Son Jesus Christ.” Do we read this as an assurance which is subjectively applied to the soul of the child, or must this not be said of each child, but only of some? In many baptized children it can plainly be seen that they are children of wrath. Thanks are not given here for a presupposed regeneration or forgiveness. For what do we then acknowledge the Lord?

Thanksgiving is made for a benefit, of which there is stated, “and sealed and confirmed the same unto us by holy baptism.” What is sealed in baptism? Is it the grace which is supposed to be in the child? Or is it the promise of God, the promise of the covenant of grace? We all know and agree that it is the latter, namely, the promise of the covenant. God seals in baptism His promise made already to Abraham, to be his God and the God of his seed. The Lord does not forget His covenant, but remembers it also in the following generations. God promises to the seed of the church that which we read in Genesis 17:7. A Triune God speaks in baptism that He will fulfill His promise to those who will truly serve Him. God the Father promises that He will adopt us for His children and heirs; God the Son promises that He doth wash us in His blood from all our sins; and God the Holy Ghost assures us that He will dwell in us, and sanctify us to be members of Christ, applying unto us that which we have in Christ, namely the washing away of our sins and the daily renewing of our lives. These promises God seals in baptism.

Based upon the promise found in the form of baptism, this thanksgiving is written. The baptism took place and now the church thanks the Lord for what He confirms in baptism, namely, the promise of the covenant. The words of thanksgiving agree with the promise given in the form and with that which is sealed in baptism. At the baptism of each child in the congregation, thanks can be given for the sealing of this promise, even if that child dies in wickedness and does not become a partaker of the promise in his or her personal life. It cannot destroy God’s covenant, and it will but testify against him or her.

Another point that we would like to emphasize is that in the first part of this thanksgiving, prayer is not for the child personally, but for the promise of the covenant in general — “We thank and praise Thee, that Thou hast forgiven US, and our children, all our sins.” Here the church thanks God for the assurance and sealing of the promise with Holy Baptism. I believe this makes it very clear that here the child is not spoken of personally, but that it speaks of the promise of the covenant. Later in the thanksgiving a more personal mention is made of the child.

To understand the meaning of this prayer, it is perhaps necessary to give some further details about it. We cannot deny that the thanksgiving used in the form has often been subject to misinterpretation; however, we are to remember that it was approved by the Synod of Dort in 1618-1619. The author of this thanksgiving must have been Gaspar Vander Heyden. He had a different prayer in the form which was approved by the National Synod of Dort in 1578, and that one is perhaps easier to understand. It began as follows: “Almighty merciful God and Father, we thank Thee, that Thou has taken us and our seed in Thy covenant and that, by Holy Baptism, has sealed and confirmed it to our bodies. We beseech Thee that Thou wilt wash this child by the blood and Spirit of Christ, that is, will not charge his sins for the shedding of Christ’s blood, and regenerate it by Thy Holy Spirit, and renew it, that it may be piously and religiously educated.” The second part was the same as we have it.

The Synod of Dort took the prayer from the original form of 1566, and this we have in our liturgy. Petrus Datheen set up this form, using the liturgy of the Palz in Germany, of a Lasco, minister of the refugee church in London, England, and of Zwingli in Zurich, Switzerland. Datheen had much help from Gaspar Vander Heyden, and he is the author of the three prayers which we have mentioned. His comment about the prayer was that the thanksgiving for the forgiveness of our sins and the adopting to children means “a thanking that Thou hast taken us and our seed in Thy covenant.”

When we may see it in the light given by the author, there are no reasons for hesitating to use it, because it says the same as our catechism in the 74th question and answer: “Are infants to be baptized? Yes: for since they, as well as the adult, are included in the covenant and church of God; and since redemption from sin by the blood of Christ, and the Holy Ghost, the author of faith, is promised to them no less than to the adult; they must therefore by baptism, as a sign of the covenant, be also admitted into the Christian church.” We all know that there are different relationships to the covenant—there being both an external relationship and an internal relationship.

In the letter which I received, there was no question regarding the second part of the thanksgiving, and therefore I could stop here with my answer. However, many do have objections against that part also, especially with the statement that the “children-may-increase and grow up in the Lord Jesus Christ.” Some feel that this clearly refers to presupposed regeneration. In the first part the Lord is thanked for the benefits given to us and our children, which is to the church in general, but now it speaks of the baptized child personally—that it may increase and grow up in the Lord Jesus Christ. Doesn’t “increase and grow up” assume spiritual life—in other words, to being in Christ?

Before we answer this question, we should repeat what God seals in baptism. Again we go back to the form, where we read, “In like manner, when we are baptized in the name of the Holy Ghost, the Holy Ghost assures us, by this holy sacrament, that He will dwell in us, and sanctify us to be members of Christ.” That is sealed in Holy Baptism! Is the child now a partaker of God’s grace? If it is born again, which is also possible for children, then baptism is for that child personally a seal of being a member of Christ and for that child prayer is made that it may increase and grow up in the Lord Jesus Christ.

But what about a child who is missing that regeneration? Is baptism then only a formality? Is it a meaningless sign? Wouldn’t it be better to forget about baptism if we know that the child is not born again? For them also baptism is a seal of God’s promise that He wants to be their God, according to Genesis 17:7. As Abraham received the promise, so also the church and their seed does! Also when baptism is administered to the seed of the church who are dead in sins and trespasses, the word of the catechism is applicable—they are included in the covenant as well as the adults. Without grace, however, this is only an external bond.

By baptism a child becomes a member of the church (under age) and enters in an external relationship to the covenant of grace. It is baptized also in the Name of Christ, which means that externally it belongs to Christ. (Ezekiel 16:21). In the margin of the original form there was a notation made of the text, John 15:5, alongside of the words “may increase and grow up”. In that text we read, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.” Christ is the vine and His discipes are the branches. Those who are in the vine bring forth much fruit.

In the following verse there is spoken of branches which are in the vine, but which abide not in Him and are cast into the fire. Is it then speaking of the apostacy of the saints? No, it is speaking of two kinds of branches, those which are in Christ by faith, and those which are only externally in Christ. When prayer is made that these children may grow up and increase, it does not mean a presupposed regeneration, but that they may remain in the covenant.

The expression of growing up and increasing must be read in connection with the preceding: “we beseech Thee, through the same Son of Thy love, that Thou wilt be pleased always to govern these baptized children by thy Holy Spirit, that they may be piously and religiously educated, increase and grow up in the Lord Jesus....” This prayer meanslet the upbringing of these children be under the operation of the Holy Spirit in such a manner that they later will not break Thy covenant and serve the world, but as fruit of a godly upbringing, under the operation of the Spirit, may live to Thy honor. In yet other words—let their pious upbringing be blessed so that these branches will not wither away, but be fruitful branches which may increase and grow up and embrace the promise of the covenant by faith, and that this may become visible in the fruit.

Finally, we will look once more at the objections against the use of this Thanksgiving. For many the statement that all our sins are forgiven is too general, since it is not true for many of those who are baptized. We have tried to show the difference in covenant relationship, an internal and external relationship, which leads to a twofold participation in the goods of the covenant. There is a partaking by faith, but also a partaking in virtue of the promise, and this second sort is insufficient for eternity.

The covenant of grace is made with believers and their seed, who in Ezekiel 16:21 are called children, but it is possible that they have no part in eternal life. There are two kinds of children in the covenant. There are children of the covenant who are not renewed by the Spirit of Christ and not washed by His blood. These are sometimes called children, people, believers, disciples, virgins, branches in the vine, sanctified, etc., but they are also said to be unholy, not God’s people, wild branches, bastards, unbelievers, foolish virgins, etc., since they have only an external relationship with the covenant. This separation must be taught; for otherwise we stray from the truth as some of the church of the reformation have done, taking for granted that all baptized children are saved.

We do not speak about two covenants of grace, since there is only one covenant in which all believers are brought with their seed, but there is a twofold relationship to this covenant. When the church gives thanks after the administration of baptism, we do not thank the Lord that we and our children are all internally in the covenant, nor do we thank Him for presupposed regeneration, but we thank the Lord for the promises of the covenant sealed by Holy Baptism.

May the Lord make us and our children partakers of that grace promised in the covenant under the operation of the Holy Spirit.

Rev. A. M. Den Boer

Sioux Center, Iowa

THE DEATH OF A BELIEVER

We would speak of grace as suited to our dying beds. Let me tell you that I do not expect, when the Lord is pleased to take me out of this world, that I shall say very much, if anything; these things are not to be spoken of before. Weakness of body, and the probable failure of the faculties, militate against this. Many expect a great display at the last, and are disappointed; we will not expect it.

I have often remarked the very few accounts we have in Scripture of the departure of the saints. Jacob gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and we read of the last words of David; but we have no account of the end of most of the prophets and apostles, and it is not necessary that we should. What they had to proclaim of the truths of God was spoken before the approach of death; and “we walk by faith, not by sight.” Therefore do not be discouraged when you see the children of God silently depart out of this world.

I know it is very delightful, and a great privilege, when we hear the dying saints proclaim what God has done for them, but I often question much of the accounts that are published of the death of believers as they are generally so fanciful, they seem to want that simplicity which we look for on such occasions. I do not expect a dying saint to preach a sermon at the last. But “blessed are the dead which die in the Lord; that they may rest from their labours, and their works do follow them.”

John Hubbs (1796-1871)

STUBBORN HEARTS

Who can describe the pain
Which faithful preachers feel,
Constrain’d to speak in vain,
To hearts as hard as steel!
Or who can tell the pleasures felt,
When stubborn hearts begin to melt!

Newton

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

I Cor. 15:19, 20, 22

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