A PERIODICAL FOR YOUNG AND OLD

SOLOMON’S ADMONITION TO THE YOUNG AND THE INFIRMITIES OF OLD AGE

“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them. “Ecclesiastes 12:1–7.

Here is a call to young people to think of God, and mind their duty to Him, when they are young. “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth.” This is the royal preacher’s application of his sermon concerning the vanity of the world and every thing in it. You that are young flatter yourselves with expectations of great things from it, but believe those that have tried; it yields no solid satisfaction to the soul; therefore, that you may not be deceived by this vanity, nor too much be disturbed by it, remember your Creator, and so guard yourselves against the mischiefs that arise from the vanity of the creature.

It is the royal physicians antidote against the particular diseases of youth, the love of mirth, and the indulgence of sensual pleasures, the vanity which childhood and youth are subject to; to prevent and cure this, remember thy Creator. Here is a great duty pressed upon us, to remember God as our Creator, that He made us and not we ourselves, and is therefore our rightful Lord and owner, but we must engage ourselves to Him, with the considerations which His being our Creator lay us under, and pay Him the honor and duty which we owe Him as our Creator.

The proper season for this duty — in the days of thy youth, the days of thy choice (so some), thy choice days, thy choosing days. Begin in the beginning of thy days to remember him from Whom thou hadst thy being, and go on according to that good beginning. Call Him to mind when thou art young, and keep Him in mind throughout all the days of thy youth, and never forget Him. Guard thus against the temptations of youth, and thus improve the advantages of it.

A reason to enforce this command: “While the evil days come, and the years of which thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.”

Do it quickly. Before sickness and death come. Do it while thou livest, for it will be too late to do it when death has removed thee from this state of trial and probation to that of recompence and retribution. The days of sickness and death, are the days of evil, terrible to nature, evil days indeed to those that have forgotten their Creator. These evil days will come sooner or later; as yet they come not, for God is long-suffering to us-ward, and gives us space to repent; the continuing of life is but the deferring of death, and, while life is continued and death deferred, it concerns us to prepare, and get the property of death altered, that we die comfortably.

Before old age comes, which, if death prevent not, will come, and they will be years of which we will say, We have no pleasure in them; — when we shall not relish the delights of sense, as Barzillai (2 Sam. 19:35), when we shall be loaded with bodily infirmities, old and blind, or old and lame, — when we shall be taken off from our usefulness, and our strength shall be labor and sorrow, — when we shall either have parted with our relatives, and all our old friends or be afflicted in them and see them weary of us, — when we shall feel ourselves die by inches. These years draw nigh, when all that comes be vanity, the remaining months all months of vanity, and there will be no pleasure but in the reflection of a good life on earth and the expectation of a better life in heaven.

These two arguments he enlarges upon in the following verses, only inverting the order, and shows how many are the calamities of old age, and that if we should live to be old, our days shall be such as we shall have no pleasure in them, which is a good reason why we should return to God, and make our peace with Him, in the days of our youth, and not put it off till we come to be old; for it will be no thanks to us to leave the pleasures of sin when they have left us, nor to return to God when need forces us. It is the greatest absurdity and ingratitude imaginable to give the cream and flower of our days to the devil, and reserve the bran, and refuse, and dregs of them for God; this is offering the torn, and the lame, and the sick for sacrifice; and, besides, old age being thus clogged with infirmities, it is the greatest folly imaginable to put off that needful work till then, which requires the best of our strength, when our faculties are in their prime, and especially to make the work more difficult by a longer continuance in sin, and, laying up treasures of guilt in the conscience, to add to the burdens of age and make them much heavier. If the calamities of age will be such as are here represented, we shall have need of something to support and comfort us then, and nothing will be more effectual to do that than the testimony of our consciences for us that we began betimes to remember our Creator and have not since laid aside the remembrance of Him. How can we expect God should help us when we are old, if we will not serve Him when we are young? See Ps. 71:17, 18.

The decays and infirmities of old age are here elegantly described in figurative expressions, which have some difficulty in them to us now, who are not acquainted with the common phrases and metaphores used in Solomon’s age and language; but the general scope is plain - to show how uncomfortable generally, the days of old age are.

1. Then the sun and the light of it, the moon and the stars, and the light which they borrow from it, will be darkened. They look dim to old people, in consequence of the decay of their sight; their countenance is clouded, and the beauty and lustre of it are eclipsed; their intellectual powers and faculties, which are as lights in the soul, are weakened; their understanding and memory fail them, and their apprehension is not so quick nor their fancy so lively as it has been; the days of their mirth are over (light is often put for joy and prosperity) and they have not the pleasure either of the converse of the day or the repose of the night, for both the sun and the moon are darkened to them.

2. Then the clouds return after the rain; as, when the weather is disposed to wet, no sooner has one cloud blown over than another succeeds it, so it is with old people, when they have got free from one pain or ailment, they are seized with another, so that their distempers are like a continual dropping in a very rainy day. The end of one trouble is, in this world, but the beginning of another, and deep calls unto deep. Old people are often afflicted with defluxions of Rheum, like soaking rain, after which still more clouds return, feeding the humour, so that it is continually grievous, and therein the body, as it were, melts away.

3. Then the keepers of the house tremble. The head, which is as the watch-tower, shakes, and the arms and hands, which are ready for the preservation of the body, shake too, and grow feeble, upon every sudden approach and attack of danger. That vigour of the animal spirits which used to be exerted for self-defence fails and cannot do its office; old people are often easily dispirited and discouraged.

4. Then the strong men shall bow themselves; the legs and thighs, which used to support the body, and bear its weight, bend, and cannot serve for traveling as they have done, but are soon tired. Old men that have been in their time strong men become weak and stoop for age, Zech. 8:4. “God takes no pleasure in the legs of a man” (Ps. 147:10), for their strength will soon fail; but in the Lord Jehovah there is everlasting strength; He has everlasting arms.

5. Then the grinders cease because they are few; the teeth, with which we grind our meat and prepare it for concoction, cease to do their part, because they are few. They are rotted and broken, and perhaps have been drawn because they ached. Some old people have lost all their teeth, and others have but few left; and this infirmity is the more considerable because the meat, not being well chewed, for want of teeth, is not well digested, which has as much an influence as any thing upon the other decays of age.

6. Those that look out of the windows are darkened; the eyes wax dim, as Isaac’s (Gen. 27:1), and Ahijah’s, I King 14:4. Moses was a rare instance of one who, when 120 years old, had good eye-sight, but ordinarily the sight decays in old people as soon as any thing, and it is a mercy to them that art helps nature with spectacles. We have need to improve our sight well while we have it, because the light of the eyes may be gone before the light of life.

7. The doors are shut in the street. Old people keep within doors, and care not for going abroad to entertainments. The lips, the doors of the mouth, are shut in eating, because the teeth are gone and the grinding with them is low, so that they have not that command of their meat in their mouths which they used to have; they cannot digest their meat, and therefore little grist is brought to the mill.

8. Old people rise up at the voice of the bird. They have no sound sleep as young people have, but a little thing disturbs them, even the chirping of a bird; they cannot rest for coughing, and therefore rise up at cock crowing, as soon as any body is stirring; or they are apt to be jealous, and timorous, and full of care, which break their sleep and makes them rise early; or they are apt to be superstitious, and rise up as in a fright, at those voices of birds, as of ravens, or screeching owls, which soothsayers call ominous.

9. With them all the daughters of music are brought low. They have neither voice nor ear, can neither sing themselves nor take any pleasure, as Solomon had done in the days of his youth, in singing men, and singing women, and musical instruments, ch. 2:8. Old people grow hard of hearing, and unapt to distinguish sounds and voices.

10. They are afraid of that which is high, afraid to go to the top of any high place, either because, for want of breath, they cannot reach it, or, their heads being giddy or their legs failing them, they dare not venture to it, or they frighten themselves with fancying that that which is high will fall upon them. Fear is in the way; they can neither ride nor walk with their former boldness, but are afraid of every thing that lies in their way, lest it throw them down.

11. The almond-tree flourishes. The old man’s hair has grown white, so that his head looks like an almond-tree in the blossom. The almond-tree blossoms before any other tree, and therefore fitly shows what haste old age makes in seizing upon men; it prevents their expectations and comes faster upon them than they thought of. Gray hairs are here and there upon them, and they perceive it not.

12. The grasshopper is a burden and desire fails. Old men can bear nothing; the lightest thing sits heavily upon them, both on their bodies and on their minds, a little thing sinks and breaks them. Perhaps the grasshopper was some food that was looked upon to be very light of digestion (John Baptist’s meat was locusts), but even that lies heavily upon an old man’s stomach, and therefore desire fails, he has no appetite to his meat, neither shall he regard the desire of women; as that king, Dan. 11:37. Old men become mindless and listless, and the pleasures of sense are to them tasteless and sapless.

It is probable that Solomon wrote this when he was himself old, and could speak feelingly of the infirmities of age, which perhaps grew the faster upon him for the indulgence he had given himself in sensual pleasures. Some old people bear up better than others under the decays of age, but, more or less, the days of old age are and will be evil days and of little pleasure. Great care therefore should be taken to pay respect and honor to old people, that they may have something to balance these grievances and nothing may be done to add to them. And all this, put together, makes up a good reason why we should remember our Creator in the days of our youth, that He may remember us with favor in Christ Jesus when these evil days come, and His comfort may delight our souls when the delights of sense are in a manner worn off.

He shows how great a change death will make with us, which will be either the prevention or the period of the miseries of old age. Nothing else will keep them off, nor anything else cure them. “Therefore remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth,” because death is certainly before thee, perhaps it is very near thee, and it is a serious thing to die, and thou shouldst feel concerned with the utmost care and diligence to be prepared for it. Death shall fix us in an unchangeable state: “Man shall go to his long home,” and all these infirmities and decays of age are harbingers of and advances toward that remove.

Submitted by J.V.Z.

BIBLE QUIZ

Dear Boys and Girls,

This month we have something a little different for you — a crossword puzzle using texts out of the Book of Psalms. I have shown about where the answer can be found (for example -(10–20) means that the answer will be found in one of the Psalms from Psalm 10 to Psalm 20). You can answer by making a crossword puzzle just like we show it and filling in the letters or just listing the numbers and putting the answer behind them. Since there are quite a few to find, the younger boys and girls will only be required to do the first half. My daughter made this puzzle and I don’t think it will be too difficult.

Send your answers to me at the following address: Garret J. Moerdyk, 1104 Roseland Avenue, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001.

ACROSS

1. For he satisfieth the ________ soul. (100–110)

6. Awake, psaltery and __________ (100–110)

8. Stand in ________, and sin not. (1–10)

9. There is none that doeth good: no, not ________ (50–60)

10. Flee __________ a bird to your mountain. (10–20)

12. ________ is the nation whose God is the Lord. (30–40)

14. ________ for our help and redeem us for thy mercies’ sake. (40–50)

16. Found above a small I.

17. A thousand shall fall at thy __________, and ten thousand at thy right hand (90–100)

18. — — ach me thy way, O Lord. (20–30)

19. The first letters of the two words in Psalm 132 that follow Lord.

20. I will ________ of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress. (90–100)

23. Let everything that hath b— —ath praise the Lord. (140–150)

25.— — — — —y goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. (20–30)

27. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they ________ not. (110–120)

29. Blessed be the Lord for evermore. ________ and _________ (80–90)

30. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, _________ panteth my soul after thee. (40–50)

31. For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in _________ (110–120)

32. Which executeth judgement for the oppressed; which giveth food to the _________ (140–150)

34. ________ thee, O Lord, do I put my trust. (30–40)

35. Return, ye children of m— —. (90–100)

36. As __________ as the east is from the west, so _________ hath he removed our transgressions from us. (100–110)

37. The first letters of the first two words of Psalm 107:15.

38. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in ________ did my mother conceive me. (50–60)

39. Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and _______ mercies. (100–110)

40. ________ maketh me to lie down in green pastures. (20–30)

DOWN

1. Except the Lord build the house, they _________ in vain that build it. (120–130)

2. I am like an _________ of the desert. (100–110)

3. Bow down thine ear, O Lord, hear me; for I am poor and ________ (80–90)

4. Praise the Lord with harp: sing unto Him with the psaltery and an _________ of ten strings. (30–40)

5. Oh, give thanks unto the God of __________, for his mercy endureth forever. (130–140)

6. Lift up your _________, O ye gates. (20–30)

7. For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is ________ (90–100)

11. When thou saidst,_________ ye my face: my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I ________. (20–30)

13. _________ teach us to number our days. (90–100)

15. The days of our years are three score years and ten: and if by _________ of strength they be four score years… (90–100)

20. … thy chil— — — — like olive plants round about thy table. (120–130)

22. Praise ___________ the Lord. (140–150)

24. (2 words) (2nd)am God, (1st)thy God. (50–60)

25. __________ me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength. (50–60)

26. sheep and ox — —

28. The _________ is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. (20–30)

30. The testimony of the Lord is __________, making wise the simple. (10–20)

31. I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor _________ seed begging bread. (3040)

32. If it ________ not been the Lord who was on our side … (120–130)

33. Why __________ I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? (40–50)

36. The first letters of the first two words of Psalm 74:23.

The answers to the October quiz are as follows:

“The Life Everlasting”

Testify John 5:39

Heaven Revelations 21:1

Everlasting John 3:16

Life John 5:40

Idolators Revelations 22:15

Find Matthew 7:7

Endureth John 6:26–27

Evermore Revelations 1:12–18

Victory I Corinthians 15:57

Eternal Matthew 19:16

Redeemer Job 19:25

Lord John 6:68

Author Hebrews 5:9

Springing John 4:5–14

True John 17:3

Impossible Luke 18:27

Narrow Matthew 7:14

God Psalm 90:1–2

Answers to the Bible quiz have been received from the following boys and girls —

Jim Rosendall

Laura Rosendall

Jany de Kok

Cornell de Kok

Henry de Kok

Herbie de Kok

Andre de Kok

Karl Van Oostenbrugge

Mary Van Oostenbrugge

Karel Kalee

Debbie Kalee

Cheryl Kalee

Donna Zaremba

Denise Zaremba

Marilyn Van Ravenswaay

JoAnn Van Ravenswaay

Esther Van Ravenswaay

John Blok

Gary Blok

Jannie Slingerland

Nellie Slingerland

Kenneth Ymker

Gary Van Veldhuizen

Trudy Van Veldhuizen

Robbie Van Veldhuizen

Rebecca Markus

Larry Slotsema

Shirley Slotsema

Alma Van Beek

Anden Van Beek

Joann Van Beek

Dan Meeuwse

Mark Meeuwse

Sharon Frens

Leonard Frens

Mary Frens

Julie Frens

Henry Kamp

Betty Kamp

Linda Kamp

Mary Kamp

Marilyn De Maagd

Mary Van Tilburg

Leah Van Tilburg

Paul Verhoef

Hank Verhoef

Gywne Hoogendoorn

Elwyn Hoogendoorn

LaRae Hoogendoorn

John Korevaar

Andy Korevaar

Abraham Korevaar

Joylynn Mast

Jane Mast

Neil Mast

Neal Boerkoel

Ruth Boerkoel

Bobby Boerkoel

Joan Van Zweden

Ralph Van Zweden

Mary Van Zweden

Mark Van Zweden

Janet Van Zweden

John Van Zweden

Nancy Vande Stouwe

Todd Vande Stouwe

Brenda Schelling

Kent Schelling

Beth Schelling

Linda Schelling

Toney Neels

Carol Van Bemden

Kathy Van Bemden

Tammy Kaat

John Vander Boon

Barb Hendricks

Helen Hendricks

Joan Lugthart

Val Lugthart

Maria Boonzaayer

Karl Boonzaayer

Tim Van Stelle

Andy Van Stelle

Mary Kievit

Audrey Kievit

Randy Van Giessen

Garn Van Giessen

Debbie Kamp

Tom Kamp

Bill Kamp

Marilyn Kamp

Marinus Slingerland

William Slingerland

Judy Slingerland

Rhonda Grisnich

Cheryl Grisnich

Wendy Grisnich

Adrian Bush

Nicholas J. Bush

Joe Moore

Carl Moore

John Moore

Anna Moore

Lia Moore

Amy Lou Kaat

Janice Stapel

John Stapel

John Verhey

Dave Verhey

Alane Van Ravenswaay

Joel Van Ravenswaay

Stephan Brink

Gerda Vanden Brink

Delia Vanden Brink

Roy Vanden Brink

Jane-Marie Korevaar

Wilma Korevaar

Ella Kieboom

Arline Kieboom

Tammy Troff

Marguerite Kroesbergen

Teresa Vander Meulen

Joyce Vander Meulen

Frances Vander Meulen

Harmen Vander Meulen

Sidney Vander Meulen

Amy Mieras

Mary Fluit

Arie Van Vugt

Ellen Kros

Billy Van Wingerden

Kenny Van Wingerden

Barbara Kamp

Robert Kamp

Richard Kamp

Nancy Kwekel

David Kwekel

Kim Schoonbeck

Melanie Van Brugge

Albert Bouma

Ruth Bouma

Irene Van Heek

Harlan Rus

Gloria Rus

Virgil Rus

Harold Rus

(?) Rus

Richard Van Ess

Susan Van Ess

Chuck Van Den Toorn

Cordy Vandenberg

Henry Vandenberg

John Vandenberg

Paul Vandenberg

Ronald Van Wingerden

Paul Van Wingerden

Mark Heystek

Jonathan Van Dalen

Ruth Ann Van Dalen

Rhonda Van Voorst

Peter Koppert (2)

Elizabeth Koppert (2)

Nelly Koppert (2)

Christine Koppert (2)

Janet Sweetman

Jenny Lee Sweetman

Daniel J. Sweetman

Judy Sweetman

Tunis Sweetman Jr.

David Greendyk

Billy Greendyk

Bobby Greendyk

Alida Greendyk

Jenny Overeem

Casey Overeem

Joanne Overeem

Corrie Overeem

Kathy Overeem

Wilma Oudshoorn

John Oudshoorn

Gladys Van Bochove

Rhonda Van Bochove

Diane Oudshoorn

Billy Oudshoorn

Benny Oudshoorn

Marianne Van Hoepen

Perry Hoogendoorn

Gene Hoogendoorn

Cindy Hoogendoorn

Margaret Den Boer

Willem Den Boer

Donna Marie Hubers

Helen Hubers

Marcia Hubers

Harriet Hubers

Robert Vanderknyff

Joyce Vanderknyff

Jane Ellen Vander Wiele

John Martin Vander Wiele

Kevin Verbeke

Beverly Southway

Barbara Southway

George Van Strien

Here are the replies to the letters received —

LIA MOORE — Does your puppy get along alright with the two cats, Lia? Or aren’t they on good terms with each other? It is not their usual nature to get along well. Can you tell me what man is by nature? I am sure you have been taught this in your catechism class.

LINDA SCHELLING — We are all quite well, Linda, and, as usual, always quite busy. How many chickens did you have? Before there were freezers in the home, it was necessary to butcher them only when you needed them. We do not often realize the many luxuries we have today.

JANET VAN ZWEDEN — I don’t recall hearing about Roy’s chickens, Janet. How many does he have? Do they provide your family with eggs? Can you find in the Bible that eggs were also eaten in Bible days? Eggs are not mentioned very often in the Bible.

AMY LOU KAAT — What is your teacher’s name, Amy? The apostle Paul told about a teacher he had when he was going to school. He spoke about him to the people of Jerusalem in Acts 22. Can you find his name? In those days the students sat at the feet of the teacher.

JANNIE SLINGERLAND — We are having very nice fall weather, Jannie? We don’t usually find the weather this nice in the month of October. Did you have a special reason for choosing French as one of your classes? There are so many different languages, but there are not too many taught in the high schools.

MARIANNE VAN HOEPEN — You should be able to write quite a lot about the country of Holland, Marianne. Or is this an oral report? It is only a small country in size, but has a large amount of history. Do you have relatives living there?

BETH MARIE SCHELLING — We have been in Corsica, Beth, but have never been in Denver, Colorado. How far is Denver from Corsica? We can travel quite a distance with an automobile in one day, but if we had to walk as they often did in Bible times, we wouldn’t be going so far.

ELLA KIEBOOM — Do you have to take the bus in order to get to your school now, Ella? I suppose that means that you have to get up earlier in the morning. Are you getting good marks? We would like to visit Sheboygan again, but I am quite sure it will not be this year anymore.

JOYCE VANDERKNYFF — I think your mother cat must have been looking for the best home it could find for her kittens, Joyce. When we see how the animals take care of their young ones, we see one of the wonders of God’s creation. Are you going to keep all of them?

MARGARET DEN BOER — When do you plan to leave for Holland, if you live and are well, Margaret? I suppose you are already making your plans. Did you think the Bible quiz was easy this month? This is the first time we have used a crossword puzzle.

JENNY OVEREEM — I tried to find Rainier on the map, Jenny, but I couldn’t find it. You will have to let me know where it is located. Since you would like a pen-pal, we will see what can be done. (Jenny’s address is Rainier, Alberta, Canada TOJ2MO. She is 13 years old.)

ARLINE KIEBOOM — I don’t think there were many boys and girls who travelled 8,000 miles by automobile this summer, Arline. You have seen a lot of the country. What subjects give you most of your homework? Do you go to the same school that Ella does?

RUTH ANN VAN DALEN — If you went to Virginia, I suppose you were at the places where the early settlements were made in this country, Ruth Ann. How much has changed in this country since that time. God’s Word says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord”, and it is just as true today as it was when that psalm was written.

NELLIE SLINGERLAND — What grade are you in this year, Nellie? Do you have lots of homework, too? Which day of the week do you have your catechism classes? Often there doesn’t seem to be enough time for the things we should do or would like to do.

WILMA KOREVAAR — It appears that we have reached the last one again, Wilma. As I look at the letters, I notice there are only letters from the girls. What do you suppose happened to the boys? We were glad to hear that you are getting along real well in school.

Many thanks, boys and girls, for your replies to the quiz and the letters which you wrote. As we try to learn about God’s Word and from God’s Word, may we ask the Lord to bless it, for this is so necessary for us.

With love,

Your friend,

“Uncle Garret”

REPENTANCE

What various ways do men invent,
To give the conscience ease!
Some say, Believe; and some, Repent;
And some say, Strive to please.

But, brethren, Christ, and Christ alone,
Can rightly do the thing;
Nor ever can the way be known,
Till he salvation bring.

What mean the men that say, Believe.
And let repentance go?
What comfort can the soul receive
That never felt its woe?

Christ says, “That I might sinners call
To penitence, I’m sent;”
And, “Likewise ye shall perish all,
Except, ye do repent.”

But should repentance, or should faith,
Should both deficient seem,
Jesus gives both, the Scripture saith;
Then ask them both of him.

HART

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