MISSION TIDINGS

GIFTS RECEIVED FOR MISSIONS IN APRIL 1983

CLASSIS EAST SOURCE AMOUNT

Friend in Prospect Park Gift $ 10.00

St. Catharines Collection 540.00

Friend in Michigan Gift 150.00

Friend in Lynwood Gift 100.00

CLASSIS MID WEST

Sioux Center Mission Sale 1,200.00

Rock Valley Mission Gld. Calendars 144.00

Friend in Sioux Center Gift 10.00

Friend in Sioux Falls Gift 30.00

Waupun Ladies Aid Gift 206.95 CLASSIS FAR WEST

Artesia Mission Guild Gift 801.75

“Tabitha” Lethbridge Calendars 115.00 OTHER

Friend in Baptist town Gift 200.00

Friend in Pella Gift 50.00

TOTAL: $3,556.80

Dear friends,

We again take the opportunity to acknowledge all of you for your kind support for the mission work. May the Lord bless you and your gifts.

Mrs. Meta Moerdyk is recovering from her surgery and is as good as can be expected. Her husband, Tom, hopes to leave May 9 for Nigeria, since they are short of help there. Hopefully, Meta and the children can follow in the near future.

Otherwise everything seems to be working out well in the different mission fields. We have also included a letter from J. Commelin, which has been translated from the “Paulus” of April 1983.

American General Mission Fund

Netherlands Reformed Congregations

of United States and Canada

John Spaans, Treasurer

R.R.#1 Box 212

Rock Valley, Iowa 51247

MISSION-WORK AND ELECTION BOPHUTHATSWANA

At first sight, this seems like a strange combination. What does election have to do with mission work?

You surely do not begin with election when you preach the gospel in the mission field? No, you do not start with election in the preaching, but it is the basis and stimulant of our proclamation of the gospel on the mission field.

I shall try to make that clear to you. If the Lord in His great mercy had not chosen a people in West Irian and in Nigeria and in Bophuthatswana, then the missionaries could just as well go home. Their preaching would all be for nothing.

But because the Lord has chosen a people in these lands, which actually already are His possession, who must be drawn from the power of darkness to His marvelous light, therefore we must proclaim to them in the Name of the Lord that they must repent from their evil works and believe in the Son of God.

Because it is a sure fact that God has chosen His people from every tribe and nation (see Revelation 7:9) and has given them to Christ as His possession, (John 17:6) we may therefore believe that they shall come and bow in the dust before Christ. To be sure, Christ is King and He is Surety for them so that His people shall come and believe in Him.

He does that by means of the preaching of the gospel and by the power of the Holy Spirit. Do you not see that is the basis and stimulant for our mission work? The Great King says: “go ye forth…. because they are Mine.”

Yes, that is true. But the mission workers must continually be made to see this. We are often so doubtful when we see little or no change in those to whom we preach the gospel—no feeling of guilt, no fruit unto conversion. Sometimes you see that at first they show much interest, and confess they are Christians, and later on they fall away. Then you are inclined to sit down in discouragement. Or…. maybe you even think: “Am I at the right place?”

What is then your support to enable you to proceed further and to let down the net again? Is it not the unchangeable purpose of God that those who are His must be brought to conversion, which promise we repeatedly read in the Bible? “I have sworn by Myself, the Word is gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that unto Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.” Isaiah 45:23.

Is this not a real stimulant for mission workers?

May I take an example out of past practical experience?

When we started with mission work among the heathens in the northern part of Izi, the thought of God’s election was a comforting thought for us. We were confronted with an impossible task, but we thought, “The Lord has already been ahead of us! From eternity He had thoughts of mercy and peace towards these wandering heathen, and He has chosen His Own from among them, those whom He Himself would bring to a true faith.” And later it was evident, because the Lord has sought out many of them by His Word and Spirit and brought them to the light of the Gospel in a wonderful manner. Often in a way that a missionary was scarcely the means. The Lord simply used boys like John Mbam and his brother, Nivamini, to proclaim a message from God to the people and several heathen came to the true faith. Do you know what more the Lord used? Cassette tapes from the Wycliffe Bible Translators, with meditations and hymns on them. Maybe shaming for us that the Lord used such simple means, but the Lord does His own work. He is not bound to our thoughts about Gospel preaching. The Lord can use the smallest means in His service.

God deals according to His Own counsel and plans; let us be truly convinced of this. Often the Lord does not need our plans and skill.

Do you not think that the Lord has His plan of redemption for many here in Bophuthatswana?

But no matter how poor they are, for many, materialism reigns supreme. Here thousands fall into the hands of the false prophets and promoters of sects. Here morality in marriage has piteously degenerated, so that a third of the children are born outside of married life. Beer and strong drink are among the most sold articles. Does the Lord also have His people here? Yes, also here. Also Tswana’s will join the singing in that great heavenly choir above. Also upon them, who are possibly still dead in sin now, the Lord had thoughts of peace. And they shall come. Then let hell rage. Shall the prey be taken away from the strong man armed? Yes, most assuredly.

Therefore we have courage to continue. To be sure, is not the Gospel a power of God unto salvation? And it is a wonder that the Lord continually raises up people here who preach the Word with desire and love. I have been witness of how Daniel (a two year student of the Bible School) zealously spoke to the people when on house-visitation, warning them and admonishing them to seek the Lord while He is near. I did not have to add anything to it. Sometimes you have to curb this same Daniel and to remind him that he is still a student; otherwise he would be busy whole afternoons in the congregations if we would allow him.

My friends, it is because of the election of God that His work continues. Do not doubt this, but continue to support the mission with your prayers and gifts. And for the sake and cause of Christ, do not forget liberality. Do you think the price is too high which we have to pay for the command and commission of the Lord Jesus?

It is true, the training of evangelists in the mission field costs much money. One student and his family costs approximately R 1500 per year (about $1385.00). But is it not worthwhile? Is not the preaching of the Gospel a glorious commission which is given unto us? Therefore I hope that you will not get tired of offering your gifts of love to the Lord.

Let us remember that the Lord is a glorious God, Who has thought out a plan of deliverance and salvation for a people from all lands.

Would you not like to be one of these favoured ones? And do you not desire it for others?

Therefore the Lord calls us to mission work.

Our hearty greetings to all of you.

Feb. 15, 1983

OUR ENGAGEMENT Love or passion?

PART VI

In this connection we must write about one more matter, because Scripture speaks about it.

We are. thinking of the story of Amnon. He loved his half-sister Tamar. This was was a fiery and burning love, but after a short time that love was cooled, and turned into hatred, so much so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her.

This love proved to be no love. Love does not seek itself first of all. There is a great difference between love and passion. Many have been mistaken in this matter to their great grief. The latter is only a longing which passes as soon as that longing is satisfied.

It is undeniable that in the love between husband and wife there is also an element of this passion.

The love between a boy and a girl is different than the love between parents and children. In the latter there is nothing of erotic affection, but in the first there is. Although in a good marriage erotism can not be lacking, it may never have the highest place.

The love of Amnon was nothing but erotic love, and such a love which we can better call passion, as an expression of sensual lust, can never be a good foundation for a Christian marriage. We do well to try ourselves carefully in this matter. But since men often deceive themselves, especially in this, it is wise to listen to good counsel.

For marriage is not only a matter of two people. By marriage two families are joined together; two streams of blood are brought to each other. Therefore others are also involved in it.

Consent of the parents

PART VII

The government has made statutory regulations, by which certain marriages are forbidden. Near blood-relationship precludes marriage possibilities. From the earliest times the church has concerned itself also with marriages.

In this the church follows the state. Therefore the church does not conclude a marriage that the state does not first permit. The Roman Catholics, however, demand that the state follow the church, and often try to avoid the regulations of civil law.

To what kind of illegal marriages this can lead, recent happenings in our country have shown, for instance what happened in Haarlem in 1957.

Especially with second marriages of people whose first marriage was dissolved by divorce, the church must make sure that the Word of God permits this second marriage. Happily, in our circles engagements or marriages that are hindered by legal or church regulations are only sporadic.

For us the cooperation of the parents in bringing about the engagement and the marriage is far more important. The form for the confirmation of marriage also speaks of this, for it says “with knowledge and consent of parents or guardians and friends.” This then must also be very important for us.

The task of the parents concerning the engagement and marriage is very important. Or do you think this is a matter in which you can act without their knowledge? Shall we merely expect the approval of our parents in our marriage, and are our parents obliged to give their approval when we ask for it?

Have not our parents in self-forgetting love sought our welfare and salvation, even from our early days? Do they not know us and our concerns as no one else does? Certainly, and therefore it is unbecoming for children to think and say that this is a matter they can regulate without their parents.

As soon as possible we should speak to our parents and listen to their counsel in such matters as these with seriousness and subjection.

Of course, in giving counsel the parents must be led only by the interests of the children. No jealousy, nor injured pride, no disappointed expectation, nor egoistical love of self may influence our counsel.

It may certainly happen that the parents had hoped or wished for another alliance, but that may have no influence upon their counsel. The interest of the child must be their sole concern. Wisdom and love, patience and meekness, persuasion and tact are necessary to keep your children from paths that seem destructive.

The commandment of the Lord that says, “Honor thy father and mother; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth,” is also applicable here. How many marriages that were contracted against the good and well-meant advice of the parents, have proved that it would have been better if they had never been contracted. It is better to heed the advice of parents early, than to bemoan later that you have rejected their well-meant counsel.

Of course that counsel must be well founded. There must be good reasons why the parents refuse to give their permission. If it should become evident that parental consent was refused upon grounds contrary to the Word of God, only then can the marriage be confirmed ecclesiastically, but only then is there also a basis for contracting a marriage without parental consent, and even when that consent was refused, so that the help of justice of the peace must be sought.

Rev. A. Vergunst

MOVED BUT STILL LIVING IN THE SAME STREET

Part II

Christ spoke plainly and clearly of the necessity of regeneration in the conversation with Nicodemus in John 3: “Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” The regenerated person must be reconciled with God and at peace with God.

The question presents itself: How shall I appear righteous before God? In regeneration the concerns begin, the concerns about sin, about missing God, about missing the image of God, about the necessity of what Christ has achieved and merited, and that this must not only be discovered unto us by the Spirit of God, but also must be applied.

In his life Jacob knew not only of a Bethel, but also of a Penuel. It is a characteristic and a fruit of the life of God in the quickened sinner, to surrender himself to God, but the necessity is discovered, that we must be taken over.

There is no durable rest and peace for a soul unless she finds rest and peace in God through Christ. We must die to live, we must be lost to be saved, and cut off before we can be engrafted and taken over. Where the Spirit of God strives with the soul, there will be a hastening for our life’s sake. The undelivered soul sighs after deliverance; the deliverance which is only in Christ Jesus.

By nature we seek rest and a foundation, but are no seekers of God. We always seek it where it can never be found. We are lying in a broken covenant of works though the covenant of grace is there, but that must be personally revealed. God Himself must teach us how to be saved by grace, because we have no knowledge of it. We are blind in the way of heaven and the mysteries of the Lord are for those who fear Him.

Alternating times are experienced by those who have received life from God. There are times, when the matter is bound upon them, when their soul is active, looking out with longing, but there are also times that it is so far from it. When they go their way as in a vain show, without desire, without need, without regard, without interest. Sometimes it is so hard, so cold, so feelingless, so distressed, because they are not distressed enough; condemning themselves, because the true condemning is missing. Although a soul can sometimes be cheerful and quickened, sometimes encouraged, have wrestlings with the Lord, crying to be delivered out of the bands. Sometimes thinking and hoping that deliverance is near and yet: in the end he must admit; that nothing has happened. I have moved, but I am still living in the same street. There was more stirring than weeks before, it was more persistent, but my guilt was not reconciled and my iniquities were not removed. It was different than formerly, but I’ve still not become another’s. I am still standing on my own side, still standing on my own account; I still have no ground under my feet, there was an exercise, but no solution. Hypocrites help themself, but God’s people must wait until they are helped and delivered. It is a privilege if our house may collapse and be razed even to the foundation thereof; when we may be smitten and be brought off from everything and be built upon that sure foundation of the Apostles and prophets, whereof Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone. When Moses died, Joshua took over. When it is no more possible then it is still possible. God is a God of wonders. He does wonders; He alone! Rev. W.C. Lamain

THE TRIUMPHS OF MERCY

In Exodus 33 we have a remarkable prayer of Moses, and in chapter 34 a still more remarkable answer. What was the prayer of Moses? “And he said, I beseech thee, shew me Thy glory.” (Exod. 33:18.) The man of God could not be satisfied without a sight of God’s glory. Though elevated to one of the greatest heights which human foot ever trod; though the chosen leader of God’s people out of Egypt; though invested with almost absolute power, so as to be called “a king in Jeshurun” (Deut. 33:5); though God spake unto him face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend; though occupying a position such as no other man ever occupied as the typical mediator between God and His people, yet these high and holy privileges fell short of giving him all that his soul longed to enjoy. If he looked to himself, as a fallen sinner of Adam’s ruined race, he saw misery, wretchedness, and beggary there. If he looked down from Sinai’s top upon the camp of Israel, he saw stubbornness, rebellion, and idolatry there. Wherever he turned his eyes in this lower world, nothing met his view but what bore upon it the visible tokens of the Fall, except the immediate presence of God as manifested in the pillar of the cloud resting upon the tabernacle. And though this was a glorious sight, and opened large views for faith and hope, yet after all it was but a typical representation of the presence of God. He fixed his eyes and heart therefore upon this one thing: a sight of the glory of God in some special, divine manifestation of it, as that which alone could fill his soul with sweet and sacred delight. This desire was kindled by the operation of God’s grace; this prayer was put into his heart by the power and influence of the sacred Spirit. And as if God creates any desire in the souls of His people, and that desire vents itself in prayer and supplication for a sight of His glory, He will blessedly answer it by the manifestation of Himself, so was it with the man of God. But though God granted Moses the petition thus put up, yet it seems as if it was not exactly as Moses expected or hoped. Instead of showing him His glory in such a way as Moses probably had framed in his own mind, God said He would show him His goodness: “I will make all My goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee.” And yet as if He knew what was in Moses’ secret heart, He also added, “Thou canst not see My face; for there shall no man see Me and live.” But though thus refusing that part of his prayer which could not be granted, the Lord devised a way to give Moses the utmost desire of his heart: “And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place by Me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock; and it shall come to pass, while My glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with My hand while I pass by: and I will take away My hand, and thou shalt see My back parts; but My face shall not be seen” (Exod. 33:21, 22, 23). He bade him also hew two tables of stone like unto the first; and to be ready in the morning and come up unto Mount Sinai, and present himself there before Him on the top of the mount. All this we find Moses did, for we read, “Moses rose up early in the morning, and went up unto Mount Sinai, as the Lord had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tables of stone.” Then it was that the Lord answered the prayer of Moses that he might see His glory: “And the Lord descended in the cloud” (for Moses could not bear the full effulgence of God’s glory), “and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord; that is, not only His essential character but the special relationship which He bears to man, and by which He will be known to the sons of men, for the sacred historian adds, “And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.” This was the manifestation of God’s glory to Moses. It was noperhaps exactly such a manifestation of His glory, at least not so special and personal as Moses might have longed to see; but it was that which God saw fit to grant. And how wise and gracious was the Lord in not confining a view of His glory to Moses as a matter of personal enjoyment and experience, but by proclaiming His own name, His own gracious attributes, His own goodness, mercy, and truth, and declaring that in the manifestation of them His glory shone forth, thus to reveal Himself to the children of men to all generations. The personal manifestation of His glory to Moses would have been confined to him. He alone would have enjoyed it; but the proclamation of God’s character as full of goodness and truth, pardoning iniquity, transgression, and sin, would be an eternal possession to the church. It also showed in what the real glory of God consists, and that what we need as poor fallen sinners is not a view of the effulgence of God’s glory, under which we could not live, but a proclamation of His pardoning mercy to our hearts.

J. C. Philpot

(from Sermon on Micah 7:18–19)

THE GREAT PHYSICIAN

Oh! the pangs by Christians felt
When their eyes are open;
When they see the gulfs of guilt
They must wade and grope in;
When the hell appears within,
Causing bitter anguish,
And the loathsome stench of sin
Makes the spirits languish.

Leprous soul, press through the crowd
In thy foul condition;
Struggle hard, and call aloud
On the great Physician;
Wait till thy disease He cleanse,
Begging, trusting, cleaving;
When, and where, and by what means,
To His wisdom leaving.

J. Hart

THE BLESSINGS OF SUPER-ABOUNDING GRACE

“But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. “Romans 5:20b

Man’s chief end is to glorify God. The end thereof is twofold: the glorifying of God and the enjoying of God. In the first place we must consider God in His glory, as the infinite Triune God, God the Father Who gave us life, and God the Son Who purchased eternal life for His elect; and God the Holy Ghost Who produces a new life into the heart of sinners. God is glorified in His Godhead, Acts 7:2. The creature’s honor is not essential to His being. This honor He did not give to His creatures. However, He created our first parents with great honor, being created as image bearers endowed with knowledge, righteousness, and holiness. “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; Male and female created He them” (Gen. 1:27). “Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name: bring an offering, and come before Him: worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” (I Chron. 16:29). To that end we were created, to set God the highest in our thoughts, and to acknowledge Him as God, but also as our heavenly Benefactor. “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His handiwork” (Ps. 19:1).

The Lord had made a glorious Eden for Adam, to dress it and keep it—Gen. 2:15. The infinite God looked down upon all that He had made; “And God saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good” (Gen. 1:31). “Who convinceth Me of sin? (John 8:46a). At this time God also made with Adam the Covenant of works, that is, He governed him in a covenant way. Adam was the head of the covenant, in which all his posterity was included, requiring perfect obedience to the law, to love God with all his heart and his neighbor as himself. This God implanted in his nature by creation, and promised him eternal life, which was confirmed by a sacrament; by the tree of life. “And the Lord commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Gen. 2:16,17).

Adam, at this time, was without an helpmeet. “And the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him” (Gen. 2:18). That God was indeed the Creator, Adam became aware of, for we read; “And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made He a woman, and brought her unto the man” (Gen. 2:21, 22). Note God here also as the great Physician in the closing of the flesh of Adam. He was healed, leaving no scar to be observed. God created a living soul within her (Eve), spotless from sin. “And Adam said, ‘This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of man,’ “ (Gen. 2:23). Adam had a pure affection for his wife and love to his neighbor. We read in Gen. 2:25—”And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.” “Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression” (Ps. 19:13).

God here instituted the holy marriage vow. “Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Gen. 2:24). Here the husband, the bridegroom, was the responsible head of the covenant of works, and the wife, the bride in godliness in subjection with love. “Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table” (Ps. 128:3).

In this state of honor our first parents did not remain long. God’s Word does not mention the length of time, for soon Satan, also called Lucifer, the chief of the fallen angels who was cast out of heaven, envied man’s happiness. To see a clod of dust so near to God, and himself once a glorious angel, cast out of the heavenly paradise, filled Satan with great wrath. This made him pursue our first parents; his purpose was to undo God’s work upon the earth. He lies in ambush to do mischief; he knows much, but he is not the all-knowing king of this world. He knew that God established the covenant of works with Adam, and he, Adam was the head of it. Satan passed him by and used his delusive attempt on Eve, the weaker vessel, Adam’s helpmeet. He tempted her with the most touching question regarding the fruit of the forbidden tree. “Yea, hath God said, ‘Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?’ “ (Gen. 3:1b). Had she only ignored him, but she answered and yielded to his delusive question: “And the serpent said unto the woman, ‘Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil,’ “ (Gen. 3:4, 5). There is the place the brutish Satan, the deceiver, would have her. She can then do her own will and no longer be subject to God and her husband. Eve then yielded. The heart is the breeder of all evil. Our hearts are the greatest tempters: “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed” (James 1:14). “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat” (Gen. 3:6).

Eve was the first in transgression, desiring no longer to live under the authority of God and being given to her husband as an helpmeet, she felt released from this obligation so that now she could do as she desired. Without speaking to her husband about Satan’s deception, wishing to live at liberty, she gave also to her husband who was taken in the snare by his wife and he did willingly eat. Her heart must have been smitten when she first tasted of the fruit to her destruction and also Adam, when he broke with God in the covenant of works. Now he was without God in the world, dead in trespasses and sin. They died the spiritual death, having separated themselves from His ordinances. Temporal and eternal death awaited them. We read: “And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons” (Gen. 3:7). “Lost forever” must have burdened their hearts as they departed from the presence of God.

But God, Who is righteous in His justice, is also great in His mercies. “The Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, ‘Where art thou?’ “ (Gen. 3:9). His heart condemned him, and he was ashamed, being naked, and having lost the precious blessings with which God had endowed him as an image of God, he also became spiritually naked. Being questioned because of his knowledge of his nakedness, Adam blamed the woman God had given him, and upon questioning the woman, what she had done—she gave the blame to Satan who beguiled her; manifesting that in our natural state we will never acknowledge our guilt before God.

God now expressed His divine wrath upon the serpent, abasing and placed a curse upon him, Gen. 3:14. The Lord God spoke further to Satan, announcing his total ruin. God then promised to Adam and Eve His abounding grace in the Messianic promise of Christ the Savior for lost and undone sinners. “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). This was Satan’s defeat.

The Lord God further addressed our first parents as to the fruit of their sins; “Unto the woman He said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee,” (Gen. 3:16). “And to Adam he said, ‘Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life,’ “ (Gen. 3:17). “Thorns and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread,” (Gen. 3:18–19a). Sin’s penalty is here brought forth, and sin’s sentence is pronounced to him, “for out of it wast thou taken; for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return,” (Gen. 3:19b). Total corruption is man’s portion as the wages of sin and he is destined for eternal destruction unless reconciled to God.

Is there hope for such rebels? Yes, in His super abounding grace. He further manifested His love to them, as we read: “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them,” (Gen. 3:21). Their fig leaves of self-righteousness were not sufficent for covering. Blood must be shed for their redemption to satisfy His holy wrath for their great transgression. They have seen the blood, signifying the atoning work, which was to be applied by Christ Jesus, the Great High Priest, Who through the eternal Spirit would offer Himself without spot to God. Immediately after the fall the Lord established the covenant of grace - Gen. 3:15. This covenant of grace is the way by which God through Christ, Who, as the Head of this covenant, becomes the property of the sinner, and by which he in turn becomes the property of God—Jer. 31:11. It is established with the elect only. “I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which Thou hast given Me; for they are Thine,” (John 17:9). The requirements in this covenant are, which is also a promise, namely, faith in Jesus Christ. “That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life,” (John 3:15). It is an unbreakable covenant. “The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec,” (Hebr. 7:2b). God’s attributes had to be satisfied for that great offence which Adam had given his heavenly Benefactor. Therefore in His love He sent His only begotten Son into the world. He became the pledge and surety for His church and was made a curse for them. This curse was not upon His Godhead, but upon His manhood. The curse was the wrath of God lying upon Him; and thus Christ hath taken away from believers the curse of the law by being a curse for them. Christ was smitten as He came into the state of His deep humiliation. God became man and there was no room for Him in the inn. His life was threatened in His infancy. He was smitten by Satan, the tempter, with temptations. He was smitten by the religious leaders of His day when they charged Him that He had a devil. He was smitten by His own disciple, Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. He was smitten with soul’s hellish agony when in Gethsemane—”and fell on His face, and prayed saying, ‘O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt,’ “ (Matt. 26:39). These were the hours of His greatest agony battling with the furious Satan, the tempter of mankind, and submitting Himself to His Father’s will. Here He won the battle as He bruised Satan’s head and his power over God’s domain. It is here where God’s dear children are brought when they are permitted to accept their own damnation, falling under God, and justifying Him in His justice, writing their own death penalty, as they see their Surety in Gethsemane with His blood falling down to the ground. He was smitten also when they crucified Him and when the Soldier pierced His side and blood and water gushed out. The third day He arose from the grave having victory over death. Though He did not promise His people that they would not see the sorrow of physical death, He assured them a Comforter. “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you,” (John 14:18). He guarantees them a heavenly kingdom. “In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you,” (John 14:2). This is His unfathomable love of which the apostle Paul speaks: “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!” (Romans 11:33).

Dear reader, let us examine ourselves, whether we have knowledge of our condemnation in our covenant head, Adam-Ps. 51. Let us not flatter ourselves that we have knowledge of being possessors of the super-abounding grace of God. If our life is with the world we shall perish with the world.

There are three things to be known:

1. The work of Regeneration within our hearts (being born again from above) John 3:6.

2. The work of Justification (state of being set guiltless) Zech. 3.

3. The work of Sanctification (being set free from sin). Be ye holy as I am holy, Lv. 19:2.

May His abounding grace be applied to our guilty souls, and may we extol His super abounding grace in our walk of life.

Rock of ages cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee.

C.F. Boerkoel, Sr.

SPRING IS COME

Bleak winter is subdu’d at length,
And forc’d to yield the day;
The sun has wasted all his strength,
And driven him away.

And now long wish’d for spring is come,
How alter’d is the scene!
The trees and shrubs are dress’d in bloom,
The earth array’d in green.

Where’er we tread, beneath our feet
The clust’ring flowers spring;
The artless birds, in concert sweet,
Invite our hearts to sing.

But, ah! in vain I strive to join,
Oppress’d with sin and doubt;
I feel ‘tis winter still within,
Though all is spring without.

Oh! would my Saviour from on high Break through these clouds and shine!
No creature then more blest than I,
No song more loud than mine.

Newton

LEAVING HOME

My dear father walked with me the first six miles of the way. His counsels and tears and heavenly conversation in that parting journey are fresh in my heart as if it had been yesterday. For the last half mile or so we walked on together in almost unbroken silence. His lips kept moving in silent prayer for me, and his tears fell fast when our eyes met each other in looks for which all speech was vain. We halted on reaching the appointed parting place, he grasped my hand firmly for a minute in silence, and then solemnly and affectionately said: “God bless you, my son! Your father’s God prosper you, and keep you from all evil.” Unable to say more, his Ups kept moving in silent prayer; in tears we embraced, and parted.

I ran off as fast as I could; and, when about to turn a corner in the road where he would lose sight of me, I looked back. I saw him still standing with head uncovered where I had left him — gazing after me. Waving my hat in adieu, I was round the corner and out of sight in an instant. But my heart was too full and sore to carry me further, so I darted into the side of the road and wept for a time. Then, rising up cautiously, I climbed the dyke to see if he yet stood where I had left him; and just at the moment I caught a glimpse of him climbing the dyke and looking out for me. He did not see me, and after he had gazed eagerly in my direction for awhile, he got down, set his face towards home, and began to return — his head still uncovered, and his heart, I felt sure, still rising in prayers for me. I watched through blinding tears till his form faded from my gaze; and then hastening on my way, vowed deeply and oft, by the help of God, to live and act so as never to grieve or dishonour such a father and mother as He had given me.

The appearance of my father when we parted, — his advice, his tears, his prayer, — have often, often, all through life, risen vividly before my mind. In my earlier years particularly, when exposed to many temptations, his parting form rose before me as that of a guardian angel. Deep gratitude makes me here testify that the memory of that scene not only helped, by God’s grace, to keep me from the prevailing sins, but also stimulated me in all my studies, that I might not fall short of his hopes, and in all my Christian duties, that I might faithfully follow his shining example.

Dr. John G. Paton

EVERY EYE SHALL SEE HIM

Can it be true that every eye
Shall see the Savior when they die,
And see Him face to face?
Yes, every eye shall see the King,
But some will weep, while others sing;
Oh, which will be our case?

Do we delight to see Him now,
I mean by faith, and love to bow
Before His sacred throne?
Or do we hate His precious Name,
And think ‘tis folly, quite a shame,
His cause and truth to own?

A sinner that’s beloved of God,
Redeemed from hell by precious blood,
Debts freely paid by grace,
Shall see the King, rejoice the while,
And falling at His feet will smile
To see His lovely face.

But sinners, who are dead in sin,
Defiled without, defiled within,
And die in this sad state,
Shall see the King in wrath, and fear,
And they will tremble when they hear
Their just but awful fate.

If every eye shall see the King,
It cannot be a trifling thing,
But quite a solemn thought,
The every eye that reads this page
Must see Him soon, in love or rage,
And to His face be brought.

Lord, give Thy Spirit to us all,
That we may humbly on Thee call,
Our guilty souls to save.

For now’s the time to seek the Lord,
“There’s no repentance,” say the Word,
“Beyond or in the grave.”

(The Friendly Companion)

MY LIGHT

Thou Sun of righteousness arise,
Shine glorious morning star,
Enlighten my benighted soul,
And make the Ethiop fair.
Confus’d and blind tho’ now I am,
And prone to go astray,
Bid me receive my sight, and I
Shall clearly see my way.

Be Thou my light, for light Thou art,
O crucify each doubt;
Sweep ev’ry corner of my heart,
And turn the tempter out:
Let not my hopes be overcast
With shadows of despair;
Dart through my soul Thy quick’ning beams,
And build an altar there.

Redeem me from temptation’s rage,
Break down the holds of sin;
Give me to stand in crooked ways,
And keep my garments clean;
Transplant me, Saviour, from my self,
And graft me into Thee;
Then shall the grain of mustard-seed
Spring up into a tree.

If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.Matt. 16:24–25

A Toplady

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