Vol 37 Issue 09

By the time these lines appear in print for general distribution the world in these northern climes will be or will have recently been in that period of the year when men turn to such a silly thing as an irrational ground hog for predictions as to the length of the winter that still holds sway over our land at the present time. Maybe it is not that ground hog so much as it is the sun that shines or fails to shine brightly that day. Or perhaps it is even the cloud cover that prevents the seeing of a...

Report of Classis East meeting held January 4 at Southeast Protestant Reformed Church:  Rev. A. Mulder led in opening devotions and declared Classis properly constituted when all the credentials of the various delegates were received and accepted. Each church was represented by two delegates.  Rev. M. Schipper then took the chair and Rev. Mulder transcribed the minutes. 

Rev. G. VanBaren, of Doon, declined the call from Grand Haven. —Lynden’s pastor, Rev. R.C. Harbach, declined the call he was considering from our church in Randolph, Wise.  Doon’s Jan. 8th bulletin carried this paragraph: “Rev. and Mrs. G. VanBaren rejoice in the birth of a son on Jan. 4.” Their new church directory lists his name as Gerald Wayne. 

THE NEW ENGLISH BIBLE  The year 1961 marks the 350th anniversary of the King James Bible. It is this anniversary year which has been marked as the year for publication of the New English Bible. This is a new translation prepared by scholars of the non- Roman Catholic Churches in England, Scotland and Ireland and heralded as one of the best translations to appear in modern times. There have been many of these new translations; e.g., the Revised Version, the Revised Standard Version, the Moffatt Bible, translations by Goodspeed, Knox and Phillips.

Our Church Order answers the above question by stating that baptism is to be administered to “children of Christmas.” This answer is rather general. Its indefiniteness creates the possibility of raising various questions and it is of little value in solving the problems that arise in abnormal circumstances. Rev.

(Note: At its last annual meeting the staff decided that the undersigned should continue with this rubric and treat our Belgic Confession, sometimes called The Netherlands Confession, or simply The Confession of Faith. There was an earlier treatment of this creed beginning in Volume VII of The Standard Bearer. However, this was in the Holland language; and besides, it was very brief. It is, therefore, surely not amiss that this important and precious Reformed document be studied anew.

Rationalism is that system or theory which elevates Reason above the Scriptures. Of course, the Reformation did not deny the activity of the mind, did not maintain that faith is unreasonable or irrational. But Rationalism elevates Reason above the Word of God. It does not believe because the object of its faith is set forth in the Scriptures, but because that object of its faith falls within the scope and boundaries of its ability to comprehend and understand. It accepts only that which is reasonable, humanly comprehensible. Hodge, in his Systematic Theology (Vol.

It should be remembered, that, in the matter of seeking to restore the lost sheep that strays from the fold, we are not simply trying to win a brother to ourselves, but that we are seeking to restore him into the favor of God; it is a matter which is very “serious,” a matter of what is “bound in heaven” and what is “bound on earth.” It is a matter of discipline. The German language calls this “Busszucht.” It is a chastisement to bring to confession of sin and guilt and to true sorrow of having sinned against God.

And the Lord said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life.  And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.  Exodus 4:19, 20

And finally, this leads us to our third observation on the fall of Babylon as such, namely, the time of her destruction. The chapter itself does not indicate any time. It simply tells us of the destruction. But, in the first place, it may be remarked that the very completeness and finality of her destruction already makes us think that this is one of the scenes of the last days, when all that have exalted themselves against Him, shall be destroyed by the appearance of the Mighty One.