Vol 48 Issue 15

May we remind you, again, of Hope School’s celebration of its 25th anniversary? For a quarter of a century, the dedicated boards and teachers at Hope have been providing distinctive instruction for our covenant children. The teachers and board members of the past twenty-five years certainly deserve a word of commendation. More important, of course, is the fact that the continued existence and growth of the school has been possible only through the blessing of God on the efforts expended there.

Classis East met in regular session on April 5, 1972, at Hudsonville. Each church was represented by two delegates. The agenda was routine except for the submission of an overture by an individual concerned about the site of the proposed seminary building.  The reports of the Stated Clerk and Classical Committee were read. The Stated Clerk reminded Classis and particularly the clerks of consistories that all forms must now be obtained from Rev. D. Kuiper, the Stated Clerk of Synod. 

Any real study of the doctrine of election will mean a study of plain Scripture, the whole Scripture throughout, from beginning to end. The holy Scripture alone is our standard of doctrine and practice. Faith and life have their rule in the doctrine of Scripture. There is really only one doctrine—the doctrine of Scripture. It is called the doctrine of the Lord, the doctrine of Christ or the doctrine of God, the latter receiving the main emphasis, for Scripture is God-centered.

“Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess before my Father which is in heaven.  But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.”  Matthew 10:32, 33

The attributes of God are often distinguished as “communicable” and “incommunicable.” 

Continuing our brief discussion of the Canons in connection with the Second Head which treats the atonement of our Lord Jesus Christ, we now call attention to Article VI of the Second Head of these Canons: And, whereas many who are called by the gospel, do not repent, nor believe in Christ, but perish in unbelief; this is not owing to any defect or insufficiency in the sacrifice offered by Christ upon the cross, but is wholly to be imputed to themselves.

Yes, the dead do speak.  The author of the epistle to the Hebrews says inHebrews 11:4 concerning Abel, “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts, and by it he being dead yet speaketh;” Although he took his last breath of life about six thousand years ago, Abel speaks to us today on the pages of Holy Writ. 

It is not good for the pilgrim to be alone. This paraphrase of the Word of God as found in Gen. 2:18 is permissible because it was already in the Divine mind, before God created male and female, that man should reveal himself as a pilgrim and a stranger on the earth. Even though it is possible for a man or a woman to be a good pilgrim and faithful servant in the single state, this is certainly the exception.

The whole question of dramatic productions has once again become a topic of discussion. This is true for several reasons. First, it is, it seems, in every generation a question which needs to be debated anew mostly for the sake of the young people in the Church. Secondly, the advent of television has brought dramatic productions into the home and has made them a common form of entertainment. Thirdly, the number of so-called “Christian. Movies” is growing, and it is even asserted that movies are an effective way to bring the gospel to the unconverted. 

“Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.”  I Peter 3:7