Vol 37 Issue 05

Creston’s congregation has extended a call to the Rev. A. Mulder of Kalamazoo.  The joint consistories of Isabel and Forbes have placed the following ministers on trio: Revs. G. Lubbers, R.C. Harbach and A. Mulder. 

Reply to Brother A.D. McClure  Dear Brother:  Thank you for your contribution in our November 15 issue. Though you have only recently joined the ranks of our subscribers, and though this “hymn-discussion” really began with remarks of mine in an editorial report on Synod in the July 1 issue, rest assured that we do not consider it presumptuous to write on the subject, Our magazine is open; and you are welcome. By the same token; you will expect a reply, I am sure.  Permit me to reply briefly as follows: 

Faith, Love and . . . Controversy  When controversy arises in the Church of Christ over false doctrine, and when the truth is vigorously defended over against such false doctrine, those who are guilty of heresy often accuse the defenders of the truth with lacking in the Christian virtue of love. This has happened often in the history of the Church; this has happened recently in our own history; this is evidently happening at present in the Christian Reformed Church. 

“To ward off false doctrines and errors that multiply exceedingly through heretical writings, the ministers and elders shall use the means of teaching; of refutation, of warning, and of admonition, as well in the ministry of the Word as in Christian teaching and family visiting.”—Article 55, D.K.O.

This was the subject of discussion at the fall meeting of our League of Men’s Societies. And it was suggested that my introductory treatment of the subject should appear in writing for the benefit of all and to stimulate further discussion. Seeing that I have just finished the treatment of our Canons and have not yet begun my treatment of the Netherland Confession under my usual rubric, discussion of the above subject can conveniently be inserted at this point. 

The most prominent among the Quakers were George Keith, Samuel Fisher, and William Penn. The last named was a man of a British admiral, and he proved his sincerity by the sacrifices and sufferings to which his adherence to a sect, then despised and persecuted, subjected him. Anyone who is somewhat familiar with American history has surely heard of William Penn. His name is associated with the state of Pennsylvania. 

The Christmas season is with us once again. What a wonderful time it is for the church of Jesus Christ! And what an amazing thing it is that we are privileged to commemorate these days—the miracle of Bethlehem! There is your salvation, centrally realized in the eternal Word become flesh. There the wonder of all wonders, the Incarnation, is accomplished via the sign of all signs, the Virgin Birth. There infinite justice and equally infinite grace unite to give life out of death, light out of darkness, blessed hope for utter despair, beauty for ashes, heaven for hell.

Twice it has been our privilege to call attention to the meaning of the concept “last hour” in Scripture in general, both the Old and. the New Testaments, and might come to some rather definite conclusions.  We need not repeat these conclusions here at great length. It is sufficient to our purpose to remind the reader of the following salient points.  1. That the term “latter” times in the Old Testament Scriptures refers to the future time when God will fulfill His promise(s) to Israel in the sending of His only begotten Son. 

And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian: For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them; but they understood not. Acts 7:23-25

And, in the, third place, we must also remember that this universal kingdom shall nevertheless be realized in the future, and that this complete realization of the beast shall form the ultimate outcome, the historical product, of all that, have gone before. If therefore you would have a full picture of this beast, of the antichristian world power, you must not merely think of the final manifestation, but just as well of the historic process through which the beast has passed. And it is this complete picture of the beast which is drawn before our eyes in the words of...