Vol 31 Issue 12

Holland, Michigan  168 Reed Ave.  February 25, 1955  Dear Editor of the Standard Bearer: 

Preview of the Next 25 Years.  One of the most brilliant scientific intellects of our day deals in prophetic tones what we may expect in the next 25 years in the way of material progress. In the March issue of Reader’s Digest, David Sarnoff, chairman-of Radio Corporation of America, in a condensed article taken from Fortune Magazine discloses the things that lie in the offing. 

The last time we emphasized the duty of the churches to exert themselves toward obtaining suitable men for the ministry of the Word. This necessity arises from the churches constant need of more ministers. Through sickness, emeritation, apostasy, and death her number is constantly diminished. In addition the establishment of new congregations increases the demand for more ministers and unless this demand is supplied the future of the church is jeopardized. Further, the office of Professors of Theology cannot be retained without students to be instructed.

Article 16. Those who do not yet experience a lively faith in Christ, an assured confidence of soul, peace of conscience, an earnest endeavor after filial obedience, and glorying in God through Christ, efficaciously wrought in them, and do nevertheless persist in the use of the means which God hath appointed for working these graces in us, ought not to be alarmed at the mention of reprobation, nor to rank themselves among the reprobate, but diligently to persevere in the use of means, and with ardent desires, devoutly and humbly to wait for a season of richer grace.

There was at this time a controversy about the purity of the Church and the question of Church discipline between the Donatists and the Church Catholic, whose view was represented and defended by Augustine. The Donatists were a schismatic party in North Africa. When we speak here of the Church Catholic we must not confuse this with the present Roman Catholic Church, but with the Old Catholic Church as it existed during and immediately upon the age of the apostles.

Time flies!  And while it does, man has severe limitations.  As a result it often happens even in a daily newspaper that, before the news sheet reaches the streets, the things written therein are outdated. New developments—as the time sped by and limited men were setting type, running the presses and delivering the printed page—make what is read weak and lacking in interest because greater things are already known. 

In our former article on this text we noticed that the chief subject of Paul in this passage is, that, since weare the free-born sons in the Lord, we ought also to walk in this freedom, and not be ensnared in a yoke of bondage of the works of the law, For we have been powerfully and irresistibly called to freedom. 

5. Do not thou fear: for with thee—I; From the east will I bring thy seed? And from the west I will gather thee;  6. I will say to the north, Give up; And to the south, Keep not back, Bring my sons from far, And my daughters from the end of the earth:  7. All that are called by my name: Because for my glory I have created him? formed him, yea made him  8. Bring forth the people blind that have eyes, And the deaf that have ears.

Let us consider just one of the several passages of the Word of God that are quoted in support of what nevertheless must be considered a very corrupt and carnal conception of prayer—a passage that is perhaps more often appealed to than any other. I am referring to the prayer of Hezekiah, the king of Judah. You are all acquainted, no doubt, with the incident in Hezekiah’s life that occasioned the prayer, as tie11 as with the prayer itself and its result. The king was sick. And his sickness was unto death.

In “De Reformatie,” numbers 18 and 19, occur several articles, penned by the hand of Prof. P.