A PERIODICAL FOR YOUNG AND OLD

“DOES GOD____??”

In my previous article I promised to tell you of something I experienced in my work as a minister. It happened on a Wednesday evening in Haarlem, a town near Amsterdam, as I was preaching to the vacant congregation there. About twenty-five minutes after the service had begun, a man suddenly entered the church. I could see by his uniform that he was an officer in the navy and could observe by his conduct that he was a stranger in that congregation. He listened with remarkable attention until I requested the people to sing before I proceeded with some words of appropriate application. To tell the truth, I must admit that I chose another psalm than I had intended, as my heart was inclined to select a different one. After the congregation had sung several lines, the man suddenly arose and went out.

I wondered what might have happened and, after the service was over, I asked the members of the consistory whether they knew the man or could give an explanation for his behavior, but they could not. Then the janitor knocked at the door and told me that a person was there who wanted to see me. Much to my astonishment, the man whom we had been speaking about entered the consistory room. He apologized for his strange behavior that evening and told me that if he had not forgotten to take his gloves with him when he left the church I would never had seen him again. But now he had to come back and felt that he had to talk to me.

The first question he asked me was how it was possible that after twenty-five years he heard the same kind of preaching from which he had fled in his youth. While yet a boy (he explained), his mother had taken him to listen to a Rev. van Wier, who was a minister in Scheveningen. I told him that it was doubtless God’s providence that again brought him under the ministration of His word. Then the man unfolded the story of his life, which I think contains lessons for all of us.

He told us that he had not intended to go to church that evening, but was on his way to his ship in Ymuiden, located at the entrance of the North Sea Canal which connects Amsterdam with the North Sea. Because he had missed a bus which he was to take from Haarlem to Ymuiden, he was compelled to take a later train. Having time to spare, he took a walk in the neighborhood of the railway station, which brought him to the street where our church in Haarlem is located. Seeing a light burning in the church, he decided to go inside and see what was going on there. Hearing me preach about Matthew 28:16-20, he was pricked in his conscience. Things which he heard that evening were much different from what he heard in the congregation to which he now belonged, but they were the same as he had heard in his youth.

In speaking about the text, “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world”, I had explained to the congregation that the comfort of this word cannot be applied to every listener of the gospel or member of the church. Without true repentance from a vain conversation received by tradition from our fathers... without being humbly returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls, Jesus Christ . .. the Lord is not with us, but He is against us. The song I requested the congregation to sing emphasized the Lord’s faithful care for them that trust and obey Him, and the strength which His sheep at times have in judging Him faithful Who promised never to leave or forsake them.

The Naval officer (so he told us) felt that he lacked that which God’s people have, and was reminded of what he heard from the before-mentioned minister and also his Godfearing mother. This had caused him so much inward emotion that he feared a breakdown in church. Because he did not want the congregation to see his tears, he had left the church, weeping bitterly. He told us how that his God-fearing mother had instructed him from the very days of his youth about the necessity of seeking the Lord while He was to be found and of calling upon Him while He was near. But he as a boy did not want to do this. In her zeal for his spiritual welfare and because she hoped that her son would some day serve the Lord as a minister, she required him to read every day some chapters from the Bible when he came out of school, rather than allow him to play with his friends. (Although it was well-meant, yet I feel that it was not very wise for that mother to take such drastic measures.) The result was just the opposite from what the mother desired. Despite the warnings and tears of his mother, he did whatever he could to thwart her desires. Sometimes he experienced that he was not able to do what he wanted to do, and he attributed it to his praying mother. He told me that he had been more in fear of his mother’s praying hands, than of her beating hands.

Because of his behavior, he finally had to leave home and was taken into an institution for correction. That he liked .. . now he was freed from hearing admonishments and sermons... at least, so he thought. His later choice to become a naval officer was, of course, also related to his desire for much freedom, a freedom which he found out later was not quite as he assumed it to be. After he was dismissed from the institution for correction, he wanted to go to America. He located a ship, but before leaving, spent a few days at his mother’s home. His mother was not happy with the intentions and decisions of her son, as we can easily imagine. One morning she told him that she did not believe that he would be able to go to America. He laughed at her and showed her the papers which confirmed what he had told her. However, knowing from experience the impact of his mother’s prayers, he felt disquieted.

The next morning he left home for Antwerp, from where he was to sail. In Dordrecht he had to transfer to another train, and had to wait several hours there. While walking nearby, he noticed a skipper having trouble in starting the engines of his ship and inquired as to the problem. The skipper was in great difficulty, as he was due to leave for Switzerland. His offered services were gladly accepted, and, after some little time was spent, the problem was corrected. But then, in asking the time of day, he realized that the train for Antwerp had already left… and no other train would bring him to Antwerp before his ship would leave for America. God spoke in His providence, that he realized. But the Lord’s providence had more in store for him. About that... next time D.V.

Your friend,

Rev. A. Elshout

18617 Cortner Avenue

Cerritos, California 90701

Bible Quiz

Dear Boys and Girls:

During the month of May we (in the United States) have a holiday which is called Memorial Day. It is a day set apart quite a few years ago to remember those who died in the service of our country. But did you know that in the Bible we also read about memorials and memorial days? What is a memorial? The dictionary tells us that it is anything which keeps a person or thing in memory, or it can be something that is remembered. The first letters of our answers will spell out four words found in Exodus 3:15, where the Lord told Moses that His Name would be His memorial unto all generations. It would be a blessing indeed if we, while we are yet young, might learn to know Him by His Word, and honor Him as God of all the earth. God said to Noah, “I do set my bow in

the cloud, and it shall be a______ of a covenant between me and the earth.”

Jacob at Bethel (where he saw a vision) said, “This stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s

______.”

God said to Abraham, “My covenant will I establish with______, which Sarah shall bear unto thee.”

Samuel took a______,… and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, “Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.”

After the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, the brazen censers were made into plates, to be a memorial unto the children of ______.

When Joshua and the people crossed over Jordan, what did he set up for a memorial?

What was Moses instructed to keep for future generations to show them wherewith they were fed in the wilderness?

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy_______

In the history of Esther, the days of Purim were instituted to be held every year so that the________of them perish not from their seed.

When Moses was instructed to make the priests’ garments, what garment was to have upon it two stones of memorial?

When the Lord Jesus instituted the Lord’s supper, he said, “This do in remembrance of________”

What did a woman pour upon the head of Jesus, which would later be told for a memorial of her?

Nehemiah said to Sanballat and his friends, “Ye have no portion, nor ______, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.”

At Peniel, Jacob was told, “Thy name shall no more be called Jacob, but The angel said to Cornelius, “Thy prayers and thy_______are come up for a memoral before God.”

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou_______ and do all thy work.

The answers to the April quiz are as follows:

“In the days of thy youth”

-Ecclesiates 12:1

Isaac Genesis 22:9

Naaman ? King 5:1-3

Kings 5:1-3

Twenty Genesis 37:28

Hanged him Genesis 40:22

Ephraim Genesis 48:14

I Samuel 16:11-13

Abel Genesis 4:3-5

Younger Genesis 25:23

Saul Acts 7:58-59

Obadiah I Kings 18:12

Forbid Luke 18:16

Treason II Chronicles 23:13

House of God II Chronicles 22:12

Youth I Samuel 17:33

Youth I Samuel 17:33

Obed Ruth 4:17

Understanding heart I Kings 3:9

Timothy I Timothy 1:2

Helmet I Samuel 17:38

Answers have been received during the past month from the following boys and girls:

Rodney Dibbet

Joyce Vander Meulen

Teressa Vander Meulen

Frances Vander Meulen

Joanne Beeke

Marsha Koedam

Linda Keizer

Mary Bakker

Tim Vander Waal

John Vander Waal

Betty Vander Waal

Curt Jenison

Bill Boluyt

Marilyn Sue De Maagd

George De Maagd

Louis De Maagd

Donna Lyn Zaremba

Denise Carol Zaremba

Laura Rosendall

Henry Rosendall

Eleanor Meeuwse

Ruth Meeuwse

Mike Meeuwse

Kris Vander Male

Martha Vander Male

Mary Jean Vander Male

Lilly Ann Vander Male

Lillian Berman

Cheryl Berman

Joyce Van Veldhuizen (2)

Corinne Van Veldhuizen (2)

Arnold Van Veldhuizen (2)

Barbara Sue Kamp

Richard Kamp

Judy Koedam

David Spaans

Larry Spaans

Janice Spaans

John Van Zweden

Joan Van Zweden

Rita Rozeboom

Wendy Rozeboom

Randy Vande Stouwe

Nancy Vande Stouwe

Norma Bouma

Rosalie Bouma

John Johnson

Linda Johnson

Alice Moerdyk

Linda Bleeker

Deanna Erickson (2)

Cindy Sue Erickson (2)

Ronald Van Beek

Lavonne Van Beek

Martin Peter Vlietstra

Phillip Kaat

Donna De Meester

Kathie De Meester

Ken Lugthart

Val Lugthart

Joan Lugthart

Carolyn Spaans

Sharon Spaans

Lisa Lords

Dan Lords

Ruth Ann Van Dalen

Neal Boerkoel

Bill Boesterd

Conny Alice Boesterd

Joan Spaans

Gertrude Spaans

Dave Verhey

Dianne Van Ravenswaay

Marilyn Van Ravenswaay

JoAnn Van Ravenswaay

Mary Van Tilburg

Rhonda Grisnich

Wendy Grisnich

Billy Greendyk

Janice Kaat

Roger Kaat

Cindy Hoogendoorn

Gail Hoogendoorn

David Greendyk

Nick Greendyk

Tommy Greendyk

Tom Blok

Bruce Blok

Janet Van Driel

John Remus

Linda Remus

Janet Remus

Sharon Bouma

Albert Van Grouw

Debra Vos

Donald Vos

Janet Van Grouw

Carolyn Van Grouw

Darrell Gorter

Doris Gorter

Dennis Gorter

Lawrence Overbeeke

Carol Overbeeke

Robert Verbeke

Billy Van Wingerden (2)

John Van Wingerden (2)

Janny Van Wingerden (2)

John Schut

Jim Van Giessen

Robert Greendyk

Gloria Roskam

Alvin Roskam

Jeff Roskam

Wilma Droogers

Billy Droogers

Debby Droogers

Betty Jean Van Der Weile

Arie Vandenberg

Paul Vandenberg

Janetta Vandenberg

Cordy Vandenberg

Joe Van Woudenberg

John Van Woudenberg

Ed Van Woudenberg

Elizabeth Van Woudenberg

Gary Roozenboom

Bernie Vlietstra

Conrad Vlietstra

Fred Vlietstra

Joyce Van Den Top

Judy Van Den Top

Janet Arlene Sweet man

Ellen Van Ginkel

John Oudshoorn

Ruth Boonzaayer

Esther Boonzaayer

Nelly Koppert

Alice Koppert

Peter Koppert

Judy Sweetman

Christine Koppert

Tunis Sweetman, Jr.

Evelyn Van Dyke

Helen Van Dyke

Ruth Ann Van Grouw

Ruth Van Dyke

Larry Van De Vendel

Howard Van De Vendel

Roelie Stapel

Henrietta Stapel

Janice Stapel

Geri Moerdyk

Betty Jo Mast

Neil Mast

Janey Mast

Willis Van Roekel

Sander de Jong

John Van Hoepen

Herman Schut

Beverly Lynn Southway

Alane Van Ravenswaay

Denise Van Ravenswaay

And again we will see what letters we have to answer —

GARY ROOZENBOOM - We have been reading quite a bit about flooding conditions in Iowa, Gary, and have been wondering whether any of our friends have had to be evacuated from their homes. What a lot of mud must be left behind when the water is gone.

JOE VAN WOUDENBERG - How are the pigeons getting along, Joe? It is too bad you can’t sell them. But I don’t think anybody buys pigeons, do they? I imagine you enjoyed catching them. Since the barn was burned down, you probably won’t find it so easy to catch them anymore.

CORDY VANDENBERG - It was nice to hear from you again, Cordy. I suppose you were quite happy to have a new bedroom. Do you know of a woman in the Bible who fixed up a room for a certain prophet to use when he was in that city? Can you tell me who this prophet was?

ALICE KOPPERT - 331 Bible verses is certainly a lot of them, Alice. Are most of them taken from the Psalms, or are they from a number of the books of the Bible? You will have to recite some of them for me some time, if we may be spared.

LAWRENCE OVERBEEKE - It is real nice to have another new friend, Lawrence. We hope you will be able to answer the quiz each month. Sometimes they are a little more difficult, but then you might have to ask your parents for some help.

JOHN OUDSHOORN - What kind of catalogs do you deliver with your new wagon, John? I once had a wagon, and used to sell pansies and celery from house to house. But that is so long ago, I can hardly remember it.

BILL BOESTERD - You don’t have much trouble writing letters, Bill, because I can always expect a nice, long letter. It must be that things are always happening around your house. Be sure you don’t take your pony into the water in cold weather, because he won’t like it and you won’t either.

PAUL VANDENBERG - Did you give the new calf a name, Paul? And do you still have 23 chickens? I suppose they are quite grown-up already. Which of your animals do you like best? Can you tell me of an animal in the Bible which spoke after her master had struck her with his staff?

CHRISTINE KOPPERT - You had the right answers to the two riddles, Christine. I had several different answers to Sharon’s riddle, but the correct answer was “light”. Did it take you quite a while to figure it out? How are you getting along in school?

CONNY ALICE BOESTERD - I guess I wouldn’t be a very good farmer, Conny, because I don’t even have a garden. Do you have a large garden? How old is Andrew now? I remember your brother wrote me when Andrew was born, but I really don’t know how long ago that was.

RODNEY DIBBET - Eleven and a half days that your school was closed because of the weather is quite a few, Rodney. Even though they did not happen all at one time, it still means about half of a month in school days. Do you have cows, pigs, horses, chickens, or some of each on your farm?

PHILLIP KAAT - I suppose you have started planting by this time, Phillip. In the Bible we read of a man who planted a vineyard, and then misused the resulting crops. Can you tell me who this was? Give our greetings to your parents.

ROELIE STAPEL - You picked out the text to which I was referring, Roelie. You do real well in solving my extra questions that I have been giving you. We can imagine that the Lethbridge congregation is real happy that Rev. Verhoef accepted their call.

NELLY KOPPERT - I think your grandmother would also like to see you, Nelly. It is too bad that you live so far from each other. How long is your Aunt going to stay in Holland? Would you be able to talk Dutch if you were to visit Holland?

MARY VAN TILBURG - Is the mud all dried up again, Mary? Since we have all paved roads in the city, we don’t realize what a problem that can be. We were sorry to hear about your mother’s cousin, who had died in Vietnam. What sadness there is in the world, and we only hear or see a small part of it.

JOHN VAN HOEPEN - You were still on time in sending in your answers, John. But if we don’t get them in time, we will always put your name on the list for the following month. Do you like school? I suppose you are already thinking about summer vacation.

RHONDA GRISNICH - There were others that had a little problem with the ninth question, Rhonda. That was the one as to how long Solomon spent in building his own house. I was sorry to hear that your grandmother had fallen and broken her hip. We hope she may soon be home again.

CAROL OVERBEEKE - We were happy to have you answer our Bible quiz, Carol. You did very good. Sometimes they won’t be quite as easy. I couldn’t find Fenwick on the map, so I am not quite sure where you live in Ontario. You will have to write me where it is located.

JOAN VAN ZWEDEN - I hope you are all feeling better again, Joan. Did you get caught up with your schoolwork? I’m quite sure the snow is all gone by this time. I think I was being a bit hasty when I wrote that already in the March issue. Congratulations on the fine report card!

JOYCE VANDER MEULEN - Your mother had the right answer for Sharon’s riddle, Joyce. And you had all of your answers correct, too. We are real happy to see that so many boys and girls are answering the quiz. But it does keep us quite busy.

JUDY KOEDAM - What a nice, long letter, Judy. There was supposed to be a question in the February quiz for which the answer was “horses”. But it must have been overlooked. You were the only one that caught it. That was too bad that the cattle drowned. Did the third one survive alright?

CONRAD, BERNIE, AND FRED VLIETSTRA - You will have to do a lot of practicing in talking Dutch, boys. Some day you might have visitors from Holland, and won’t be able to talk to them. Or do you think you would manage if you really had to talk it?

HERMAN SCHUT - What is your cat’s name, Herman? Is he a house cat, or does he stay outside all the time. How many rabbits do you have; We have a cat, but he lost his tail in an accident. But he gets along real well without it.

JOHN VAN ZWEDEN - You were still having a lot of snow in March, John. Was there much flooding near where you live. I know you live up on a hill, so you shouldn’t have had any trouble at your house. Did you have a good report card?

JOHN REMUS - I was glad to hear that you like to go to school, John. What do you like best - reading, spelling, or what? Since you wouldn’t want to do just one thing all day long, you probably like all of the subjects.

BILLY AND DEBBY DROOGERS -

Your answers to the Bible quiz and the riddle were all correct. This month no one sent in a riddle for us to solve, so we won’t have one for you. Can you tell me who in the Bible gave a riddle to some young men?

NANCY VAN DE STOUWE - I see your letter is at the bottom this time, Nancy. We are having real nice weather the last few days, although the nights are still cool. How quickly the seasons go by. Which time of the year do you like best?

We must say “good-bye” for this month, but hope, the Lord willing, to meet again next month. Many thanks for your answers and letters.

With love,

Your friend,

“Uncle Garret”

The Annual Youth Day Conference will be held in Vineland, Ontario, Canada, on Tuesday, July 1st, the Lord willing. For information you may contact Mr. A. Van Driel, Read Road, R.R. 2, St. Catharines, Ontario.

Missionary Corner

TIMOTHY MISSION FUND

We were gladdened during the month of March with donations from our readers totalling $270.00, which we acknowledge with many thanks. Remittances in the amount of $100. each were sent to the Bethesda Clinic in Nigeria, the Rev. G. Kuijt in New Guinea, and Miss Ann Herfst in Nigeria. The balance in our fund as of March 31st is $16.40.

An acknowledgment for a previous check sent them was received from Miss van Rossum at the Bethesda Clinic, which follows:

Dear friends,

Thank you very much for the gift of $100, received for the Bethesda Clinic. We are very grateful for your support and that of many others, so that we in turn are able to help the sick. We hope that you will continue to send us our material needs, but above that, would you please remember our work in your prayers.

It is a difficult time for mission work while there are wars and rumors of war, and while the communist nations try to deceive the uneducated by promising them many good things. But it was the Lord Who brought us to Egedde, and He will fulfill His plans with the people here, even if our work will be for only a few of them. We like to see much fruit, but we see so little of it, and we feel that it is with many shortcomings.

May the Lord give you and us to believe His promises and to work while it is day, before the night is coming when it is too late. Best wishes from all of us.

Miss Coby van Rossum

Here Mrs. Kuijt is talking with a mother and her children. Through association and the showing of love, she tries to inspire confidence, in order to talk to them about the one thing needful both in life and in death. Do you remember our mission workers in your prayers?

December 1968

Dear Friends,

A greeting from Egedde.

Many of you are no doubt wondering how things are going here in Egedde, especially after all the news reports about Nigeria and Biafra. For us it is sometimes difficult to imagine that about 100 to 150 miles away so much is being suffered because of the violence of war.

It is peaceful here in Egedde, and very little of the war can be observed, only occasionally a troop of soldiers passing by, a jeep, or soldier on furlough in Egedde who stops in at the clinic. The purchase of certain articles is more difficult, especially of medicines. But up to this time we have been able to obtain the most necessary things.

There is enough food in Egedde and it is sold at the markets. But they are afraid that too much is being shipped out, such as rice and yams, so that soon there will be a shortage.

The work in the clinic is constantly increasing, as several buildings have been added. These serve for the admission of patients, including many very sick children. Some of them have been poisoned by native medicines, and others have been undernourished (generally because of improper diet.)

Sometimes the people stay a few weeks, but others will not stay unless they see immediate improvement. Others are willing to stay, but after a few days they leave. At times it is because the family at home has gone to a soothsayer, who has determined the cause of the sickness, and an offering must be made.

Some listen as we tell them about the Word of God, but others are not interested. These say, “We have always worshipped the juju and wish to continue doing this. If we discontinue, we will surely die.”

The number of orphans is also increasing, and in the last months eight babies have been added. A few of the older ones have returned, who at the age of two years were sent to the village of their fathers. Two of these were undernourished, primarily because the fathers are not willing to give them the proper foods.

One of these is Christian. We had heard that he was not well, and had sent several messages to his father requesting him to bring his son to us. But he did not come. Finally we paid him a visit. It was a long trip on a bicycle. We found Christian in a poor condition and very sad in the home of his grandparents. You could immediately notice that he did not feel at home there, as no one knew what to do for him. We brought him back with us. It appeared that he had a serious anemia (blood-deficiency) and had malaria. Also he had lost much weight. He is feeling quite at home here with the other children and in a period of weeks is quite a little better. When he is completely better, we hope to find a young Christian family who will take him in.

On Thursday evenings we have a class for the women. We come together in the little church of Ibilla Alachi. A stormlamp serves as our light. The subjects discussed are (1) the Christian family life according to the Bible, and (2) the mother and the care of her children. One of the women asked: “Sister, my husband is not a Christian, and he also has several wives. Can these women be saved?” We try to explain to her that faith is a personal matter, but also that the person who has faith has a great responsibility in regard to her husband and the other wives.

There is also a class for girls in the ages of twelve to sixteen years. A Bible story is discussed, and they are also given instruction in hygiene. One evening I asked if their parents also went to church, and only one replied affirmatively. The others told me that their parents worshipped the idols, or that they spent their time drinking. I then asked them why they themselves came to the church, and they answered, “To hear the Word of God.” They cannot read or write and what they hear is in Sunday school, the church services, or in the class itself. The language is still a great problem. We hope that the Bergman family will again be able to return after their furlough in America, as they had begun a study of the language.

We may go further in our work here in God’s strength, and the Name of the Lord shall also be praised in this place.

Remember us in your prayers.

With friendly greetings,

Dini Sonneveld

THE POWER OF WORD AND PRAYER

The Report of the Baptist Home Missionary Society for 1828 tells of a poor woman, the wife of a day-laborer, who had recently been converted. Previous to that time, she and her husband had lived very happily together, but now the husband had become a bitter persecutor; and because his wife would not give up the service of God, he frequently turned her out of doors in the night and during the winter season. The wife, being a prudent woman, did not expose his cruelty to her neighbors, but, on the contrary, to avoid their observation, she went into the adjacent fields and betook herself to prayer; and often, in a subordinate sense, it might be said of her,

“Cold winter, and the midnight air,

Witnessed the fervour of her prayer:

The desert her temptation knew,

Her conflict, and her victory too.”

Greatly distressed, but not in despair, her only encouragement was that with God all things are possible. She therefore resolved to set apart one hour every day for a whole year to pray for the conversion of her persecuting husband. This she was enabled to do without missing one day for a whole year. Seeing no change in her husband, she formed a second resolution to persevere six months longer, which she did to the last day, when she retired at about twelve o’clock as usual, and, as she thought, for the last time. Fearing that her wishes in this instance might be contrary to the will of God, she resolved to call no more upon Him; her desire not being granted, her expectation appeared to be cut off.

The same day her husband returned from his work in a state of deep dejection, and, instead of sitting down as usual to his dinner, he went directly to his bedroom. His wife followed and listened, and to her grateful astonishment, “he who used to mock, returned again to pray.” He came downstairs, but refused to eat, and returned again to his work until the evening. When he came home, his wife affectionately asked him, “What is the matter?” “Matter enough,” said he; “I am a lost sinner. About twelve o’clock this morning I was at my work, and a passage of Scripture was so impressed upon my mind, that I cannot get rid of it, and I am lost.” His wife encouraged him to pray, but he replied, “O wife, it is of no use; there is no forgiveness for me!” Smitten with remorse at the recollection of his past conduct, he said to his wife, ‘Will you forgive me?” “O yes.” “Will you pray for me?” “O yes, that I will.” “Will you pray for me now?” “That I will with all my heart.” They instantly fell on their knees, and wept, and made supplications. His tears of penitence mingled with her tears of gratitude and joy. The scene of solitary intercession became a house of prayer; and he who was once a persecutor became a deacon in the church.

—John Whitecross

Many suffer long, but are not longsuffering.

THE SOUL OF MAN

John Flavel once wrote, “I studied to know many other things, but I knew not myself. It was with me, as with a servant to whom the master committed two things: the child and the child’s clothes. The servant is very careful of the clothes; brushes and washes, starches and irons them, and keeps them safe and clean; but the child is forgotten and lost. My body, which is but the garment of my soul was long forgotten, and had been lost for ever, as others daily are, had not God roused it by the convictions of His Spirit out of that deep oblivion and deadly slumber.”

THE DUTY OF CHRISTIAN CHILDREN

“Know thou the God of thy father. “I Chronicles 28:9

“My father’s God, and I will exalt Him. “Exodus 15:2

Every parent who has the knowledge of God desires that his or her children would obtain that knowledge too. You are here called upon by the Word of God to seek to know your father’s God. You know what God your father worships, but you do not know Him. You are here commanded to come to know God for yourself. It is not enough to believe that your father knew God and that God did many things for him. “Acquaint now thyself with Him and be at peace.” This knowledge is life eternal.

How are you to obtain this knowledge? See how Solomon came to know Him. Solomon continued to worship in the way that his father had taught him to worship, and it was while thus engaged, that God appeared to him and spoke to him. The Holy Spirit of God uses the written and spoken Word of God to speak to us, and you are to use these means to find the God of your father. It is a big thing to claim to know God. Beware of easy ways to the obtaining of this knowledge. There are many religious teachers who will make it very easy for you to come to the knowledge of God, but you are to wait for the Spirit of God to reveal Him unto you. Conversion is God’s work. When I say you are to wait for God, I do not mean that you are to sit back and do nothing, but what I mean is that you are to wait at the Word and prayer until you know that God is speaking to your soul. God makes Himself known in and through the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit alone can show this Person to the soul. “Know thou the God of thy father,” and not God as you or someone else imagines Him to be. And when you come to that knowledge, seek to say with Moses, “My father’s God, and I will exalt Him.”

—Rev. A. E. W. MacDonald (Y.P.M.)

THE ANVIL

“The Word of God shall stand for ever. “ - Isaiah 40:8

One night, while we were standing
beside the village spring
We heard the blacksmith's anvil in
tones of clearness ring.
And where the smith was working, the
shadows failed to hide
A heap of worn-out hammers, which
he had cast aside.

We said, "How many anvils did it
require, we pray,
To wear out all those hammers which
you have thrown away?"
He said, "This only anvil is all I have
to show;
For it resists the hammers, and wears
them out, you know."

And, like a solid anvil, the sacred
Scripture stands;
And fiercely is it beaten by unbelievers'
hands.
With noise, and show of learning, they
make a large display;
But, like the blacksmith's hammer,
they wear themselves away.

That Anvil is for weapons whose edge
is always keen;
And used for making armour for ages
it has been.
On it are formed the sandals, by which
brave feet are shod;
And heroes shape then helmets upon
the Word of God.

But some, who once in Scripture
professed to find their joy,
Today appear to labour its message to
destroy.
Abortive are their labours, and fruitless
all their pains;
Unmoved by all that threatens, the
Anvil still remains.

With sparks, and smoke and vapour,
they fashion forms of doubt,
Until, amid the shadows, the hammers
are worn out.
While all the passing ages their varied
hammers bring,
They always fail to silence that ancient
Anvil's ring.

Above the direful discord, which from
contention springs,
In measured tones majestic that
Anvil's message rings: —
"His light forever shineth; night is to
Him as day;
The word which He hath spoken shall
never pass away."

—T. Watson (Y.P.M.)

ADDRESSES FOR TIMOTHY CORRESPONDENCE

Timothy Section-

Thomas Moerdyk

1222 Vassar Drive

Kalamazoo Michigan 49001

Timothy Mission Fund

c/o Miss Adriana Kievit

1121 North Westnedge Avenue

Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007

Timothy Bible Quiz

Garret J. Moerdyk

1104 Roseland Avenue

Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001

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