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A PERIODICAL FOR YOUNG AND OLD

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A PERIODICAL FOR YOUNG AND OLD

35 minuten leestijd Arcering uitzetten

O Timothy keep that which is committed to thy trust. II Timothy 6:20

DID GOD SPEAK???

My dear friends,

In the last issue I concluded my article, “Did God Speak;”, with the statement that it is not ridiculous or simple to accept our Bible as God’s Word because others do it, but also that it is much better and most necessary for our salvation to do so because the Holy Ghost witnesses of it in our hearts.

I am quite certain that the main reason for the degradation of the Bible and its instructions can be found in the deplorable fact that in our time only a few people have experienced in their hearts the witnessing of the Holy Ghost that these Holy Scriptures are from God. If we merely accept the Bible as God’s Word because others did or do so, and if we merely try to live according to the Word of God because we know that others have done so who had the personal experience of assurance by the Holy Ghost that the Bible is God’s Word, then we can very easily and quickly lose such a traditional faith when we are confronted with the thoughts of those who oppose our beliefs.

Of course, it is a very good thing to read the narratives of the lives of true God-fearing persons and about their experiences in spiritual affairs. I am quite sure that some of such books can be found in the bookcases in your home. In times past these books were read more frequently, intensively, and reverently than in our days, and it would make me very happy if young people would give them the attention they truly deserve. I know from experience that such books can be of tremendous help in times of doubts and fears. I would be very glad if you would spend much of your leisure time (too often used to read books and magazines of little value) to become informed about the experiences of God-fearing people.

Although it is also applicable in this case that “all that glitters is not gold”, (because in spiritual experiences we sometimes find that they are centered around the person himself rather than centered on Christ, the Bible, and its Author), yet, my dear friends, read and re-read the books in which the people of God have testified about the Work of the Holy Ghost in applying His word to their hearts. The Lord can use the reading of such books to also assure us of the Divine origin and character of the Holy Scriptures or to establish our footsteps in His Word. It is a blessing that such books exist and still can be read; God only knows how soon this will no longer be possible.

Another reason for regarding such books in high esteem is the steadily decreasing number of those who can testify of the work of the Holy Ghost in their hearts by His Word. In former times meetings were frequently held in the homes of God-fearing people in order to converse with one another about God’s dealings and their spiritual experiences in the past year, month, week, day, or hour. Personally I have had the privilege of listening to such testimonies many times, and I do believe that the attendance of such meetings has been beneficial unto my soul. If you do not know the work of the Holy Ghost testifying in your heart of the truth of the revelations in God’s Word concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment, . . . concerning Christ and His merits, . . . concerning the benefits flowing from Christ’s work, consisting of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, . . . then perhaps you have heard your father or mother, brother or sister, grandfather or grandmother, or other acquaintance speak of these things. But it is also possible that you have never heard the testimonies of personal experiences of God’s salvation. If that is the case (and I know that many of you have never had this opportunity and privilege), then the danger of losing esteem for and confidence in the Bible as the true Word of God is very imminent. I truly feel sorry for those of you, dear friends, who are in that position. For you it is even more important to read the above-mentioned books than for those who are able to ask God-fearing people about their experiences.

No, do not read or esteem such books as being your “Bible”. Never consider any writings of men, however holy those persons may have been, as equal in value to the Bible. Too many do that, not only in the Roman Catholic Church (where traditional writings and customs are even of more importance than the Bible), but also some among us. In too many cases religion is only a reflection of tradition, centered around a certain minister or other pious people, and their sayings. Such a worship of men is nothing else than idolatry, and the results of such a “religion” are manifest in many unhealthy ideas and practices which cannot be found in the Bible or confirmed out of it. Our fathers wrote in the 7th Article of our Confession of Faith (please, never forget it) that “. . . all men are of themselves liars, and more vain than vanity itself”. To the Law and to the testimony only . . . if writings or persons do not speak according to God’s Word . . . it is because there is no light in them. (Isaiah 8:20).

Having made clear to you the value of “tradition”, but also the limit of its value, I want to emphasize again the necessity of a personal experience of the witness of the Holy Ghost in our hearts that the Holy Scriptures are of God. This only leads to the saving knowledge of misery, deliverance, and gratitude, which in turn only can lead to that blessed state of “Being henceforth no more children tossed to and fro, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness”. (Ephesians 4:14).

Your friend,

Rev. A. Elshout

18617 Cortner Avenue

Cerritos, California 90701

P.S. Do you enjoy these articles?? Please let me know . . . anyway, I would like to hear from you.


Bible Quiz

Dear Boys and Girls,

Again another year has begun for us. It is our wish and prayer that the year 1969 may be a blessed year for us and our dear ones. What would this mean — a blessed year? Does it mean that we might become richer? wiser? have good health? and so forth? This might very well be. But if we read the first part of Matthew 5 we find listed those whom the Lord Jesus said were blessed, and also the blessings that they would receive. I hope you will read them, and ask the Lord also for those blessings.

This month our quiz has to do with the living creatures (animals, birds, insects, etc.) as mentioned in the Bible. This should make it easy.

To the young of what animal was Judah compared by Jacob as he blessed his sons?

Which of Job’s animals were burned up by fire from heaven?

John the Baptist said unto the Pharisee and Sadducees, “O generation of

From what animal was the garment of John the Baptist made?

To what animal did Mephibosheth compare himself when brought before King David?

What birds brought food to Elijah every day at the brook Cherith?

Into what animals were unclean spirits permitted to enter by the Lord Jesus, so that they were choked in the sea?

What animals did Samson use to set fire to the fields of the Philistines?

King Solomon (in Proverbs) said “Go to the , thou slug-

gard, consider her ways, and be wise”.

The Psalmist sang, “As the

panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God”.

When the Lord Jesus sent out seventy men to preach, He said, “I send you forth as among “. (2 answers)

What animal spoke to Balaam?

What beast of the field spoke to Eve?

What bird was sent forth by Noah from the ark, which returned to him again?

What animals killed 42 children because they mocked Elisha?


The answers to the December quiz are as follows:

Tidings of Great Joy — Luke 2:10

Two Matthew 2:16

Inn Luke 2:7

Dumb Luke 1:20–22

Incense Luke 1:11

Nazareth Matthew 2:19–23

Gabriel Luke 1:19

Samson Judges 13

Overshadow Luke 1:35

Flee into Egypt Matthew 2:13

Gabriel Luke 1:26–27

Rama Matthew 2:17–18

Emmanuel Matthew 1:23

Archelaus Matthew 2:22

Temple Luke 2:27

Joseph Matthew 1:20

Opened Luke 1:64

You Luke 2:11

Answers were received the past month from the

following boys and girls:


Marilyn De Maagd

Alice Moerdyk

Joanne Spaans

Gertrude Spaans

Teresa Vander Meulen

Frances Vander Meulen

Willis Van Roekel

Phillip Kaat

Henry Rosendall

Louis De Maagd

George De Maagd

Faith Van Dyke

Sharon Bouma

Kathie De Meester

Donna De Meester

Geri Moerdyk

Tom Blok

Joannd Beeke

Cheryl Berman

Lillian Berman

Danny Lords

Lisa Lords

Betty Jean Kamp

Linda Mae Kamp

Mary Ann Kamp

Jim Van Giessen

Leonard Mol

Joan Mol

Mike Mol

Val Lugthart

Ken Lugthart

Judy Koedam

John Van Zweden

Debra Vos

Donald Vos

Joan Van Zweden

Lilly Ann Vander Male

Martha Vander Male

Mary Jean Vander Male

Kris Vander Male

Donna Zaremba

Denise Zaremba

Ann Marie Bolyt

Mary Jane Bolyt Ruth Meeuwse Mike Meeuwse Eleanor Meeuwse Sally Slotsema Steven M. Slotsema Susan Slotsema Shirley Kay Slotsema Bruce Blok Dave Verhey Dave Vander Boon Janet Van Driel Mark Van Tilburg James Van Tilburg Linda Bleeker Jim Bleeker Marsha Koedam Cordy Vandenberg Arie Vandenberg Janetta Vandenberg James Dale Westrate Gary Roozenboom Brian Zevenbergen Peter Zevenbergen Jane Zevenbergen Janice Kaat Roger Kaat Sharon Spaans Linda Schalkoort Wilma Droogers Debbie Droogers Billy Droogers Martin Peter Vlietstra Joe Van Woudenberg Peter W. Kievit Peter Southway Arlene Southway Randy Vande Stouwe Nancy Kay Vande Stouwe Christine Koppert Peter Koppert Alice Koppert Mariene Jo VanDen Toorn

Billy Van Den Toorn Andrew Van Den Toorn Denise Van Ravenswaay Tunis Sweetman, Jr. Janet Arlene Sweetman Judy Sweetman Esther Boonzaayer Jeffrey Roskam Gloria Roskam Gloria Boluyt Rhonda Grisnich Wendy Grisnich Billy Moerdyk John M. Goeman John Oudshoorn Martin Oudshoorn Deanna Erickson Cindy S. Erickson Carolyn Heystek Sander de Jong Conny Alice Boesterd Bill Boesterd Carolyn Van Grouw Albert Van Grouw Cindy Hoogendoorn Ruth Kievit

Corinne Van Veldhuizen Joyce Van Veldhuizen Arnold Van Veldhuizen Howard Van Ginkel Rudolph Stapel Henrietta Stapel Janice Stapel Roelie Stapel Randy Teunissen Mark Teunissen Diane Teunissen Stephan Vanden Brink Delia Vanden Brink Nick Greendyk Tommy Greendyk Ruth Ann Van Dalen Bill Van Wingerden Janny Van Wingerden John Van Wingerden

And now it looks as if we have quite a few letters to answer, so we had better get started —

DEBBIE DROOGERS — Your letter is first this time, Debbie. Yes, your answers were all correct. Once in a while I find a mistake in someone’s answers, but quite often it is because they didn’t read the question carefully. And for some it is easier than for others.

DELLA VANDEN BRINK — Jeremiah was the correct answer for the riddle, Delia. Did you have the flu also? Quite often when one in the family has it, the others will have it too. And just now there are so many that do have it.

JOE VAN WOUDENBERG — It was very nice to hear from you, Joe. It is indeed a blessing when we have plenty of food. Do you always appreciate the food you get at meal time? We must remember that there are many boys and girls who have never had such food as we have every day.

PETER KOPPERT — It was nice of you to write again, Peter. So Robert is already a year old. Does he walk yet? We are getting quite a little snow today. Have you had much snow? I hope you will write again. Say Hello to your parents and family.

HOWARD VAN GINKEL — You had all the right answers to the quiz, Howard, and also to the riddle. Are you the oldest in your family? We were happy to hear from you, and hope we may hear from you each month. Our congratulations on your birthday.

BILL BOESTERD — What a nice long letter, Bill. It sounds like you really enjoy your Industrial Education class. I remember making a lamp in Manual Arts (as we called it), but I never had the metal work. It seems your shop is well equipped.

CONNY ALICE BOESTERD — Thank you for your nice letter too, Conny. I had no trouble reading it. Yes, it gets quite cold here sometimes. Tonight it is about 15 degrees above zero, and we have more than a foot of snow on the ground. So I think our weather is much like yours.

SANDER DE JONG - We are all quite well, Sander. Your answers arrived in time. Did you get to shake hands with the Governor General? Your form of government is different than ours, so I had to look in the encyclopedia to find out who he was.

RHONDA GRISNICH - No, I do not know Mr. Seely, Rhonda. Did he take a lot of pictures in Mexico? Do you think that you would like to take a trip there? I do not know much about Mexico, although I probably studied about it when I went to school.

ALICE KOPPERT — How many teeth does Robert have now, Alice? I imagine he can play with you now. It is nice that you are old enough to take care of him for your mother. How are you getting along in school? Are you still learning Bible texts?

CHRISTINE KOPPERT — I really do not know why your Thanksgiving Day is so much earlier than ours, Christine. Maybe someone else can tell us the answer to that. Or maybe your teacher will know. Give our greetings to your family.

PETER W. KIEVIT — I don’t know what happened to your letter in November, Peter. I seem to remember one, but it must have been overlooked. Thank you for the stamps. Sometimes we have snow late in October, but other years it can be much later.

JANETTA VANDENBERG — I checked the spelling in your letter, and every word was correctly spelled. So I can see that you like to spell. There are many boys and girls who find spelling quite a problem. Be sure to write again, won’t you.

PHILLIP KAAT — Did you get the raccoon with bow and arrow, Phillip? Shooting with a bow must take quite a little practice. You were correct — Nimrod is mentioned in the Bible as a mighty hunter. Now can you tell me who is mentioned as a cunning hunter? This man had a twin brother.

JOAN VAN ZWEDEN — We hope that everyone is better again at your house, Joan. I also thought the mission calendar was very nice. A picture gives us a much better idea of how those people live. Do you think that you would like to be a mission nurse?

JOHN VAN ZWEDEN — Do you like music, John? In the Bible when King Saul looked for someone who could play well on the harp, do you know whom he found? I see you were one of the sick ones. But since the boys were all sick, you must have had four good nurses.

DEBRA AND DONALD VOS — It was real nice to hear from you again. Did your parents enjoy their trip? I can imagine that you were happy to see them again after three weeks. It is real fine that your grandmother helped you with the quiz. You had them all correct.

MARTIN PETER VLIETSTRA — Thank you for the nice package of stamps, Martin. Also congratulations on that new baby brother. Were you happy it was a brother? Since you are the oldest, you will have to be real helpful in taking care of him.

WENDY GRISNICH — Do you like to study about Indians, Wendy? It is hard to realize that at one time Indians were living where we now live. Of course, the cities and streets were not there then. Did you get a little homesick when you were gone for the weekend?

ROELIE STAPEL — You are correct, Roelie — Gamaliel had Paul as one of his pupils. I think in those days school was much different than it is today. It would be interesting to know just what those schools were like. Would you like to be a teacher?

LINDA SCHALKOORT — Did your parents have a nice trip, Linda? I suppose you would have liked to go with them. I saw a picture of your brother’s children the other day. They certainly are growing, too. Say Hello to your family for us.

CAROLYN HEYSTEK — Thank you for your gift to the mission fund, Carolyn. As you can read in our missionary section, these gifts are very much appreciated. Was it a nice day when you took the ferry to Vancouver Island? I imagine some days it can be a rough trip.

BILL VAN WINGERDEN — Thank you for the picture of your new church, Bill. I can see why you are so happy to have it. Of what material are the outside walls? It certainly looks real nice. We hope that you may always go there gladly, as David in Psalm 122.

RUTH ANN VAN DALEN — Your answers were still in time, Ruth. The names are not sent in until the 25 th of the following month, so that generally gives everyone plenty of time. Often I am already receiving answers for the following month before these are sent in. So don’t worry about being late.

GARY ROOZENBOOM — Very good, Gary; I see that you have looked up the answers to questions I asked Phillip and Roelie. You mention Tyrannus as a teacher of Paul, but I am not sure that he was his teacher, but it does say that he used his school building.

SHARON BOUMA — My, what a lot of letters this time, Sharon. I see you have made a riddle for us, so we will put it in this time. Here is the riddle —

It spells the name of a woman in the New Testament.

The first letter is in Matthew, but not in Luke.

The second letter is in Romans, but not in Timothy.

The third letter is in Mark, but not in Acts.

The fourth letter is in Deuteronomy, but not in Joshua.

The fifth letter is in Psalms, but not

in Proverbs.

The sixth letter is in Judges, but not in Ruth.

The seventh letter is in Jude, but not in Revelation.

The eighth letter is in Hosea, but not in Joel.

The ninth letter is in Galatians, but not in Ephesians.

The tenth letter is in Leviticus, but not in Numbers.

The eleventh letter is in James, and also in Peter.

The twelvth letter is in Chronicles, but not in Ezra.

The thirteenth letter is in Philemon, and also in Hebrews.

This riddle used more than one-third of the Books of the Bible. And for this time, we will have to stop. We hope to hear from all of you again, the Lord willing and we live.

With love,
Your friend,
“Uncle Garret”


Missionary Corner

TIMOTHY MISSION FUND

During the month of November a total of $204. was received in gifts, which we again acknowledge with sincere thanks. Checks were sent out in the amount of $100. each to Rev. G. Kuijt and to the Bethesda Clinic, leaving a balance of $67.40 at the end of November. We are indeed grateful for your support in making these gifts possible.

FROM EBENEZER SCRIPTURE MISSI ON IN RHODESIA —

ON TREK TO MASHONALAND

On this trek, asbestos and chromium mines, stores and schools, as well as many individuals were contacted. We visited a large Tribal Trust Land, where we had never been before. Our fears as to how we would find our way in such a maze of forest tracks, were providentially removed, when the District Commissioner for that area kindly provided us with a guide.

In this area the language is predominantly Shona. Here again we found, that although many can read, comparitively few appear to possess any portion of God’s Word for themselves.

The attitude of the Principal of a mine school, with over one thousand pupils, was particularly helpful. He spontaneously said: “I shall explain to the pupils that your visit is practical proof that the Saviour’s command: ‘Go ye into all the world . . .’, is being carried out today.”

SWAHILI

Impressions follow each other in such rapid succession that it is impossible to tell you about all of them. For the purpose of this News Letter however, it might suffice to conclude with the following incident. A little while ago, I visited several labour camps, about sixty miles from here. As usual the diversity of tongues was astounding. One gloomy looking man was standing by himself, away from a group which, had gathered around the Landrover. I first thought he was hostile. When I went over to him, he hesitantly mentioned in broken Sindebele that he could only read Swahili. He could not believe his eyes, when I showed him a New Testament in Swahili, so far away from his home in Tanzania. He gladly paid the one shilling I asked for it.

A little while later, when I walked through the compound in order to contact others, he was sitting outside his hut, reading his new treasure, straining his eyes by the fading light of the setting sun.

What a great privilege to be thus engaged. Pray that the Most High will teach us, faithfully to make use of every opportunity.

Yours very sincerely,

Jan and Margaret van Woerden.


FROM BETHESDA CLINIC IN NIGERIA —

(November 4, 1968) — I’m happy to be able to write you that hut No. 5 is finished now. The people are still working on huts No. 6 and No. 7. We had to number them. At first we thought it would work out alright if we painted them in different colors, which we did, but our clinic boys and girls get mixed up easily with colors. This caused too much confusion with the medicine and treatments which were to be given to the patients in the various huts. We hope that the number system works out better.

We’re all very pleased with the huts, as we now have an opportunity to admit those patients who are in need of more extensive treatments and who are too weak to come to the clinic every day. The patients themselves prefer to be admitted in one of the huts and we can tell that they feel at home in them — and so do the relatives. It is the custom here that a patient gets meals from relatives, and those meals are prepared by one of the relatives right on our compound underneath a shade, which is used as a community cooking place. We are planning to build a community kitchen from mud blocks in the near future, probably as soon as huts No. 6 and No. 7 are finished. It is really going to look like a little village on its own.

With friendly greetings,

Ann Herfst

THE SPANISH EVANGELICAL MISSION —

Dear Mission Friends,

In the name of the mission workers in Spain we send our hearty thanks for the generous gift which we again received for the propagation of God’s Word in the darkness of Spain.

The Lord has given an open door and is willing that also there His blessed Word be placed upon a candlestick, after Rome has kept it hidden for so many centuries under a bushel. Many hands are open to receive a Bible when the Bible-Van arrives someplace. Every day the seed of the Gospel is spread among the thousands in Spain, who do not know the need of their own heart and life.

In all the oppression in Spain, it is experienced that the Lord is mighty. He also fulfils His promise in Spain, that He will bless His Word and make it fruitful. Also in several Protestant schools it is evident that the Lord is blessing them. The Lord willing, this month the first shipment will be made to Spain of the Bible story book of Mr. Vreugdehil, which has been translated into the Spanish language.

Again, our hearty thanks for your gift. God bless you and also the gift to the glory of His Name, the enlarging of His Kingdom, and to the salvation of sinners.

With friendly greetings,
Yours truly,
J. R. van Oordt, Secretary


PRAYER

No doubt you all pray, and do so each day when you rise, before you go off to school or work. What I am wondering is what you pray for in those morning devotions. Certain of your prayers are, of course, engaged in along with your parents. Father or mother will pray at the breakfast table and at family worship, and you, I trust, are following these prayers in your mind and regard them as your own. On these occasions your parent is the spokesman, and your silent amen is your declaration that you also wish that God may hear the prayer.

Now, to take first these family prayers in which you silently take part, what are the blessings usually asked for? Naturally they will differ from family to family, and from day to day, but I assume that when your parent has acknowledged the greatness and goodness of God and has confessed sins and sin to Him, then he or she will plead for the forgiveness of sins, for cleansing from sin, for grace to strive against sin, for keeping and similar benefits. I am confining my remarks just now to what might be called personal requests.

But now we must think a little about your own secret prayers engaged in perhaps immediately after rising from bed. When you are on your own, what kind of prayers do you make? Do you use a form of prayer taught you by your mother when you were quite young? Probably it was very suitable as a first prayer; is it comprehensive enough fo you now? (comprehensive means wide in scope; including a great number of thoughts). Let me give you a few examples of the things you might well pray for.

You are about to go to school; you are to travel by bus, or walk along a busy road. Suppose there should be an accident; are you prepared to enter the presence of God? If you are trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ alone for salvation, then you are prepared, and that is good indeed. But what if you are not? As long as you are in an unsaved state, your first concern in prayer should be to ask the Lord to save your soul by enabling you to receive Christ to be your Saviour. You often ask to be forgiven your sins, but that cannot be unless Christ become your trust to save you from your sin.

Then also there is the important matter of your faults and bad habits. Perhaps you are late in the morning and inconvenience other members of the family. Or you are cross and disobedient to your mother who is busy providing a meal for you and harassed on account of the many things she has to do. Or it may be other unpleasant traits which appear as you go among your classmates and form sources of annoyance to your teachers. Well, you should pray about these matters too, asking the Lord to cure you of these faults and bad habits, and to make you dutiful, thoughtful, kind and diligent. Pleas for sanctification, these might be called, and you know that sanctification is a part of salvation.

Now what about temptation? Don’t you find that if some of your companions are in the habit of cheating, or doing wrong things, or lying or using bad language, and they expect you to do the same, it is very difficult to go against them? Aren’t you tempted to keep in with them by doing as they do? And older children are likely to be exposed to strong temptations to speak about matters which God in his Word forbids as wicked and vile. Should not your prayer be; “set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked words with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of then-dainties”. Ps. 141 v. 3,4.

There are other subjects of prayer which I might mention, but perhaps these examples are sufficient to indicate that your morning prayers should not be formal or mere repetitions, but that they should be related to your daily and hourly needs as weak sinners. That is what we all are, and at the beginning of each day as we know that the coming hours will bring their own difficulties and dangers, temptations and needs, so we should ask the Lord to forgive and save us, to cleanse and strengthen us, and to guide and preserve us for His glory and our highest good. And, on no account let us forget to ask these things for the sake of Christ through whom alone we can receive them.

Young People’s Magazine


“A WEE PRAYER”

This incident which took place in the Glasgow hospital some 70 years ago was told by a young doctor. A little boy, ten or eleven years old, very thin and very weak from a longstanding disease, was brought up to the operating room to undergo an operation which it was thought might prolong his life. His condition, however, was so poor that there was some fear not only that the operation might not succeed, but that during it his little remaining strength might fail. After entering the operating room which had seating around it like the gallery of a church, and while preparations were being made, the little fellow was seated on a cushoned chair. From this he looked up and around at the students who were there to witness the operation. With a pitiful, tremulous voice he said, “Will one of you gentlemen put up just a wee prayer to Jesus for me in my sore trouble?”

The surgeon, patting him on the shoulder, spoke kindly to him, but there was no prayer and only a pitying smile on the faces of some of the students. The boy turned his head away, and in childish tones which were sufficiently audible to those around him, he asked Jesus, “the Friend of wee boys who love Him”, to be with him, to have mercy upon him in his distress. And while the assistant was putting him under so that he might feel no pain during the operation, the voice of the boy was still heard in words of prayer.

The surgeon, knowing that he had to perform an operation requiring coolness of mind and delicacy of touch, felt just a little agitated. There was a lump in his throat which rather disturbed him. Soon, however, he heard his assistant say, “The boy is ready”, and he had to begin his task. Hardly had he done so when he realized that the little lad’s prayer for himself had included in its answer someone else, for the coolness of head, steadiness of hand, and delicacy of touch all came as they were needed, and the operation was accomplished with remarkable success.

On the following morning, the surgeon going round his ward from bed to bed and coming to that on which the little boy lay, saw from the calm, comfortable look on his face that his sufferings had been relieved and that all was well with him. Taking the little wasted hand, he whispered into his ear, “The good Jesus heard your prayer yesterday”. A happy look lit up the boy’s face, and pressing feebly the surgeon’s hand, he said, “I knew He would.” And then he added, “You, Doctor, were good to me too”. But apparently thinking that the doctor was on a different platform and required something for his care and trouble, in a plaintive voice he said, “But I have nothing to give you.” And then a bright thought came into his mind, and with a little cheer in his tone, he added, “I’ll just pray to Jesus for you.”

The boy made a good recovery and returned soon to his home. The incident is a proof of how even young boys and girls may be brought to have a firm faith in the Saviour and have experiences similar to those of older Christians. Is there not a close resemblance between this incident and that recorded in Psalm 18, verse six?

“In my distress I called on God,
cry to my God did I;
He from His temple heard my voice,
to His ears came my cry.”

Young People’s Magazine


THE LITTLE BUGLER

As Told by a British Officer

During my service in India, in those stirring times, I had in my regiment a little bugler whom I had often noticed was too fragile for the life he had to lead; but he was born in the regiment, and we were bound to make the best of him. His father, as brave a man as ever lived, had been killed in action; then his mother drooped and died six months later.

She was the daughter of godly parents and a delicate, refined woman, who had brought up the boy strictly, to walk in the right way. In spite of her religion she was generally liked and respected, and the boy was her image. He liked going to prayer meetings with his mother rather than joining in the horseplay of the other boys. This made him unpopular with the boys and he suffered from many coarse taunts and mocking jokes. After his mother died (I found this out later), his life was made miserable by the scoffing jeers and ribald jokes of the men also.

About two years later, when Willie Holt was fourteen years old, the regiment was bivouacing some miles from our regular camp for rifle practice. I had intended leaving the lad behind, thinking him too delicate to go along (the ground was swampy and unhealthy), but my sergeant-major begged hard to take him along.

“There is mischief in the air, Colonel,” he said” and rough as they treat the lad, his pluck and patience restrains ‘em; for the boy is a saint, sir; he is indeed.”

I had a rough lot of recruits just then, and before we had been out two weeks several acts of disobeying orders had been brought to my attention. I vowed to make an example of the very next offence by having the culprit flogged.

One morning it was reported to me that during the night the targets had been knocked down and broken, and the usual practice could not take place. This was serious indeed, and on investigation the mischief was traced to a man or men in the very tent where Willie Holt was staying. Two of the worst characters in the regiment were staying in this tent. When enough evidence was produced to prove conclusively that one or more of the men in this tent were guilty of the crime the whole group were put under arrest to be tried by court martial. In vain we appealed to the group to produce the guilty ones. At last I said:

“We have all the evidence that proves that one or more of you men before us committed the crime last night. If anyone who slept in No. 4 tent last night will come forward and take the punishment like a man, the rest will go free; but if not, there is no alternative but to punish you all, each man in turn to receive ten strokes from the “cat.”

For the space of a couple minutes dead silence followed; then, from the midst of the men, where his small form had been completely hidden, Willie Holt came forward.

“Colonel,” said he, “you have given your word that if anyone of those who slept in No. 4 tent last night comes forward to take the punishment, the rest shall get off free. I am ready, sir; please may I take it now?”

For a moment I was speechless, so utterly was I taken by surprise; then in a fury of anger and disgust, I turned upon the men: — “Is there no man among you worthy of the name? Are you all cowards enough to let this lad suffer for your sins? For that he is not guilty you know as well as I.” But sullen and silent they stood with never a word.

Then I turned to the boy whose pleading eyes were fixed on me and never in all my life was I in such a painful situation. I knew I must keep my word and the lad knew it too, as he repeated, “I am ready, sir.”

Sick at heart, I gave the order and he was led to the front for punishment. Bravely he stood with bared back, as one-two-three strokes fell. At the fourth a faint moan escaped his white Ups; but ere the fifth fell a hoarse cry burst from the crowd of men who had been forced to watch the scene, and with one bound Jum Sykes (the black sheep of the regiment) seized the whip, as with choking words he shouted: “Stop it, Colonel, stop it, and tie me up instead. He never did it, but I did;” and with convulsed, anguished face he flung his arms around the boy.

Fainting and almost speechless, Willie lifted his eyes to the man’s face and smiled — such a smile. “No, Jim,” he whispered, “you are safe now, the Colonel’s word will stand.” Then his head fell forward; he had fainted.

The next day as I was going to the hospital tent where the boy lay, I met the doctor. “How is the lad?” I asked, “Sinking, Colonel,” he said quietly. “What!” I exclaimed, horrified and startled at the words. “Yes, the shock of yesterday was too much for his feeble strength. I have known for some time it was only a question of time,” he added, “this affair has only hurried matters along. He is more for heaven than for earth, sir,” and with suspicious moisture in his kind, old eyes he stood aside while I went into the tent.

The dying lad lay propped up on the pillows and kneeling at his side was Jim Sykes. The change in the boy’s face startled me; it was deadly white, but his eyes were shining with a wonderful light, strangely sweet. The kneeling men lifted his head, and I saw the drops of sweat standing on his brow as he muttered brokenly: “Why did ye do it lad? Why did ye do it?”

“Because I wanted to take it for you, Jim,” Willie’s weak voice added tenderly. “I thought it might help you to understand how Christ died for us.”

“Christ has naught to do with such as me, lad; I’m one of the bad uns; you ought to know.”

“But He died to save bad ones,” answered Willie. “He says, ‘I came not to call the righteous, but sinners. ‘Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool; ‘Dear Jim, listen! He is calling you. He has poured out His life blood for guilty sinful men. He is knocking at the door of your heart, do heed his knock.”

The lad’s voice failed him, but he laid his hand gently on the man’s bowed head.

Standing there in the shadow, I felt my own heart strangely stirred. I heard such things once long, long ago. Thoughts of my mother came floating back out of the dead past, and the words seemed a faint echo of her own.

How long I stayed there I know not. I was roused by a cry from the man, and I saw Willie had fallen back on his pillow, fainting. I thought the lad was gone, but he was soon revived. He opened his eyes, but they were dim and sightless. “Sing to me, mother,” he whispered, “The Gates of Pearl; I am so tired.”

The words flashed back to my memory. I had heard them often in the shadowy past, and I myself repeated them softly to the dying boy. “Thank you, Colonel,” he whispered. “I shall soon be there.”

This confidence seemed so strange to me that I said, “Where?”

“In heaven, Colonel.” Then he repeated,

Just as I am without one plea But that Thy blood was shed for me, And that Thou bid’st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God — I come.

His voice rang out, thrilling the hearts of everyone who heard it. Then gradually the weak arms dropped; the light faded from the shining eyes; and the brave spirit of the martyr boy fled to God.


THE WAY TO ZION

Zion, the city of our God,
How glorious is the place!
The Saviour there has His abode,
And sinners see His face.

Firm against every adverse shock,
Its mighty bulwarks prove;
‘Tis built upon the living Rock,
And walled around with love.

There all the fruits of glory grow,
And joys that never die;
And streams of grace and knowledge flow,
The soul to satisfy.

Come, set your faces Zion-ward,
The sacred road inquire;
And let a union to the Lord
Be henceforth your desire.

The gospel shines to give you light,
No longer, then, delay;
The Spirit waits to guide you right,
And Jesus is the way.

O Lord, regard Thy people’s prayer,
Thy promise now fulfil;
And young and old by grace prepare
To dwell on Zion’s hill.

ADDRESSES FOR TIMOTHY CORRESPONDENCE

Timothy Section —

Thomas Moerdyk

1222 Vassar Drive

Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001

Timothy Mission Fund —

c/o Miss Adriana Kievit

1121 North Westnedge Avenue

Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007

Timothy Bible Quiz —

Garret J. Moerdyk

1104 Roseland Avenue

Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001

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Bekijk de hele uitgave van woensdag 1 januari 1969

The Banner of Truth | 20 Pagina's

A PERIODICAL FOR YOUNG AND OLD

Bekijk de hele uitgave van woensdag 1 januari 1969

The Banner of Truth | 20 Pagina's