Vol 33 Issue 03

“The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof; the world and they that dwell therein.” 

A brother allowed me, to read a little pamphlet he had received recently which I thought was most interesting especially in the light of our controversy with those who speak of the offer of the gospel, and the acceptance of Christ proffered therein.  The author of the pamphlet entitled: Popular Phraseology Considered, is C. Breed, principal of the Strict Baptist Bible Institute. And its contents constitutes a paper read at Z. Minister’s Fellowship Conference of the Strict and Particular Baptist Group. 

Those who are against the practice of retiring officebearers after a specified tenure of service present the following arguments’ in support of their position:  1. There is not to be found a direct command in the Word of God requiring this compulsory retirement!  2. Ministers serve in their office for life. It should be the same with the elders and deacons. 

PART TWO  EXPOSITION OF THE CANONS  THIRD AND FOURTH HEADS OF DOCTRINE  OF THE CORRUPTION OF MAN, HIS CONVERSION TO GOD, AND THE MANNER THEREOF  Article 1 (concluded) 

The celebration of the eucharistic sacrifice and of the communion was the centre and summit of the public worship of the Lord’s Day, and all other parts of worship served as preparation and accompaniment. The old liturgies are essentially, and almost exclusively, eucharistic prayers and exercises; they contain nothing besides, except some baptismal formulas and prayers for the catechumens. The word liturgy (leitourgia), which properly embraces all parts of the worship of God, denotes in the narrower sense a celebration of the eucharist or the mass. 

There are some passages in Scripture which so graphically portray a. given situation in life, in the life of God’s church on earth in days of sin, error and schism, that one hardly needs to reflect upon them and give detailed interpretation.

The preceding chapter reports that a deputation from Bethel came to Jerusalem to enquire whether the fast that had been instituted seventy years previous to commemorate the destruction of the holy city had still to be observed. In replying the prophet rebukes the formalism of the Jews and sets forth the dire consequences of disobedience. He reminds them of the troubles that overwhelmed their apostate fathers. Jehovah had scattered them with a whirlwind among the nations that they knew not.

Nor must we entertain the erroneous idea that the Lord would have overlooked the weakness of this specific congregation, and pass it in silence, in view of the fact that in its tribulation it had need of encouragement rather than of rebuke. This would have been fatal and detrimental to the church. No, there is nothing to criticize. There is no reason to reprimand the church in any respect. And again, also here we must remember that it is not the individual believer, but the church as a whole that Jesus is addressing.

Yes, this book review is in the nature of multiple congratulations, and with a “plus” added.  First, I wish to congratulate the Wm. B. Eerdmans, Publishing Company, and more particularly, Mr. William Eerdmans. This part of my article is sadly overdue. I should have given time and thought to this item years ago. 

Strange  In De Wachter of Oct. 2, 1956, the Rev. I. Van Dellen writes that the last synod the Christian Reformed Church left the impression that the Three Forms of Unity are no longer sufficient as a bond of fellowship, but that several items, synodical decisions, must be added to them.