Vol 43 Issue 14

Rev. D. Engelsma is considering two calls; the first from our church in Randolph, Wis., and the second from our church at South Holland, Ill.  * * * 

A SERIOUS CALL TO A DEVOUT AND HOLY LIFE, by William Law; Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1966; 313 pp., $1.95, paper.  This paperback is an Eerdmans re-publication of a book first published in 1728. William Law, the author, was born in 1686, a time which puts this book in the era of dead orthodoxy in England. And it is this dead orthodoxy which is challenged by the book. Law writes in protest against the external religious practices of the day and calls the church to live a holy and devout life in keeping with their outward confession. 

Our thesis has been that the preaching of the gospel is the principle sign of the return of Jesus Christ. It is the principle sign because it is the means in the purpose of Christ to bring about the other signs both in the history of the world and in the development of the church. In our last article we discussed in what way the preaching of the gospel realizes the fundamental division of the world into the two camps of Christianity and Paganism, “Jerusalem” and “Gog and Magog.” We pointed out that in the Christian nations, the gospel has...

In a former article our attention was directed toward that organization called “The Reformed Ecumenical Synod,” or, R.E.S. for short. To this body belong several of the Reformed and Presbyterian church denominations from various parts of this earth. We as Protestant Reformed Churches has also considered the possibility of sending observers to its Synods. Because of our own interest in this body, it is proper that we know what has been done by the R.E.S. in the past. It has made decisions, and has committees making studies, on various issues.

The First Period, 80-250 A.D. The Canons of Dordt, of course, also express themselves on the subject of sin. Articles I through IV, of Heads III and IV, which articles speak for themselves, read as follows:

THE “SONS” CALLED “BRETHREN” BY JESUS Hebrews 2:11-13 

David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father’s house heard it, they went down thither to him.  And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him almost four hundred men.  I Samuel 22:1-2

The prayer which brings to a conclusion the service of ordaining one in the ministry of the Word must not be construed merely as a part of the “form.” Although it certainly belongs to the Form of Ordination, it is much more than this. If careful consideration was given to all that preceded, particularly the exhortations and charges given to the newly ordained minister and the congregation, this prayer will not be uttered as a mere “form,” but it will express the spiritual consciousness of the church and her minister.

ENCOURAGING PROGRESS  Some months ago we devoted our attention with respect to the “Home Front” to Protestant Reformed Secondary Education. We now turn to Primary Education. It is, of course, no less true with respect to primary education than with respect to secondary education that the principle must be followed that wherever and whenever the Lord makes it possible, Protestant Reformed parents must provide for Protestant Reformed children Protestant Reformed schools. 

– A Critical Study 4 The Committee on the Offer THE COMMITTEE SEES THE POINT