Vol 21 Issue 16

The opening exercises were conducted by Rev. J. A. Heys in the usual manner. From the credentials it appeared that all the churches were represented by two delegates. The credentials are accepted. Classis is declared constituted. It is Rev. H. Hoeksema’s turn to preside, while Rev. J. A. Heys serves as secretary for this session of Classis. The Formula of Subscription is signed by those delegates who are present at the Classis for the first time. The minutes of the previous meeting of Classis are read and approved. The Revs. Ophoff and Jonker are given advisory vote. The reply of...

Esteemed Editor: May I have just a bit of space to answer the questions raised by Mr. Gritter in regard to my former contribution? In the first place it appears that Mr. Gritter does not know that the following words, among many others, are also synonyms for adversary and opponent: adverse party, opposition, disputant and contestant. I have quoted from what is generally accepted as an authority, namely, Roget’s Thesaurus. Can it be possible that he has never heard of a debate wherein one party addresses the other as “my opponent”? His second question stems from his failure to follow...

Last time we discussed the missionary calling of the Church in general. Our calling as Protestant Reformed Churches is not different than, or distinct from, that calling, yet even as we have a specific place as Churches so do we have a specific calling within that general mandate. This follows from our specific calling as Protestant Reformed Churches. We believe that by God’s grace, we represent the purest manifestation of the Church of Christ in our present time. We believe, therefore, that Christ operates in and through us with His Spirit and Word revealing the will and counsel of God...

Our subject deals with the concluding verses of the parable known as “The marriage of the king’s son.” Before proceeding to read this article you would do well to first read the entire parable as found in Matthew 22:1-14. To understand our subject under discussion we must first of all understand the main points of the entire parable. This parable was spoken by Jesus in the Temple, on the third day of Passion week. It is very closely related to the two preceding parables, the parable of “The two sons”, and “The wicked husbandmen.” The first of these two emphasizes...

In times of local or national calamity the government steps in to aid the distressed. Whether a certain community is inundated by a flood, so that homes are destroyed and crops are ruined or whether the whole nation suffers from a depression, the government is called upon to send the necessary relief. She also serves by erecting institutions for the psychopaths, sanitariums for the disabled and hospitals for the sick. This is not only taken for granted, but commonly considered to be her duty. The government, it has often been said, owes us our living. And it is frequently regarded...

The existence of Christianity in Russia dates back to the tenth century. It was not until the twelfth century, however, that Russia was considered as being numbered among the Christian nations. It was especially under the influence of the Eastern Greek Orthodox Church that Christianity first struck root in Russia, and the first convert of note was the Empress Olga, who was baptized at Constantinople in the year 955. However, it was through the efforts of her grandson Vladimir that Christianity spread in Russia. History records that under his influence the inhabitants of Kiev threw their idols in the Dnieper...

Attention was directed to the reactions of the Philistines to Samson’s exploits among them. First they chose to regard Samson’s attacks on them as the evil work of a Hebrew stung by personal insults and injuries, thus as a private quarrel between himself and a few Philistines, and therefore took no notice of his doings. But when, as a result of Samson’s slaying them with a great slaughter, it became plain that he had designs upon them all and that his real grievance was their oppression of his people, they bestirred themselves. They were decided to get Samson in their...

Chapter 2: Under Pontius Pilate (continued) The condemnation of Jesus by the world was the judgment and condemnation of the world. Thus the Lord had spoken a few days before he stood before the Roman governor, delivered by His people, to be tried by that representative of worldly justice: “Now is the condemnation of the world, now shall the prince of this world be cast out.” John 12:31. And there can be no doubt about the fact that he spoke these words with a view to his own condemnation and death. What was historically, as men view the events of...

The Rev. George W. Marston reread the statement which Mr. Hamilton had prepared and with which Dr. Clark had expressed himself in agreement, and asked the complainants to comment upon it. The Rev. Leslie W. Sloat objected that an answer had been prepared by the committee but that the committee had made no attempt to have its printed answer considered for adoption; instead, a wholly hew document which no one had an opportunity to study had been introduced by one individual, and the complainants were now being asked to discuss it as representing Dr. Clark’s position. The Rev. Franklin S....

  The question is whether there is a real or apparent contradiction involved in the truth of God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility. Let us put both truths in propositional form: God is absolutely sovereign, even so that He determines the moral acts of man, both good and evil. Man is responsible before God for all his moral facts. Now, the question is not whether there is a problem here. It may well be that we cannot answer the question how God is able to determine man’s deeds without destroying man’s responsibility. That He is able to do so is asserted...