A PERIODICAL FOR YOUNG AND OLD

THE CONFESSION OF FAITH ARTICLE I —

That there is One Only God

“We all believe with the heart, and confess with the mouth, that there is one only simple and spiritual Being, Which we call God; and that He is eternal, incomprehensible, invisible, immutable, infinite, almighty, perfectly wise, just, good, and the overflowing fountain of all good.”

We may ask, “Is such a confession necessary?” For our answer to this question we point to Romans 10:10, where the apostle Paul says, “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” It is the nature of faith to express itself in a confession. It is possible that we confess the truth with our mouth, without believing it with our heart; but it is impossible to believe with the heart, without confessing this with the mouth. So the true confession comes up from the heart and is the fruit of faith. It is necessary for Christians to confess with the mouth that which they believe with the heart.

But now we have a problem — there are so many Christian churches, who all refer to the Word of God, but they have not the same confession. This division and separation is not to the honor of God; it is impossible that two or more different explanations of God’s Word can be true. Sometimes it may seem for us that there are contradictions in the Bible, but this is never true. We must seek the reason in our darkened mind; when we compare God’s Word with itself, the one place with the other, then we will find the truth and the meaning of that Word. Oh, that the separation in God’s church might become sin for us. Christ has said that the unity of the church was necessary: “That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us.” When the body of Christ has come to full growth, that is, when all the elected are called, then all believers will be one. Until that moment we use also our doctrinal standards to express our faith. We must maintain our Confession against the errors in doctrine and life which are so evident today in all places. Both in the churches and in daily life, there is more against God’s Word than in accord with it.

In the previous article we wrote that there are many religions, but that only the Christian religion is a true religion — a true worship of God. In Hebrews 11 we can read: “for he that cometh to God must believe that He is”. Many people do not believe in God, but according to God’s Word they are fools. Rev. Hellenbroek says, “That is rather a desire than an actual belief that there is no God.” Those who do not believe in God we call atheists. They are not born in such a belief, but are made such by the devil and others. All men are born with an internal knowledge of God, that is, all believe that there is a higher Being, Whom we call God. This internal knowledge is not enough for eternity because it does not acquaint us with the Trinity, with Christ, and with our misery and its origin. God has revealed something of Himself in nature, but much more in His Word. From the Word of God we know that what our Confession states is true: “We all believe with the heart, and confess with the mouth, that there is one only simple and spiritual Being, Which we call God.”

The Confession begins by saying that there is one only true God. It is characteristic of the Reformed Churches to give the knowledge of God the first place in their doctrine. In the Lutheran Confession the doctrine of justification is the most important, but in the Reformed Confession it is the honor of God, so that God’s Name and His glory comes first, in creation as well as in deliverance. The Lutherans stress: How can I be saved, placing man in the center; the Reformed Churches emphasize: How does the Lord receive His Honor, and through this, teach how man can receive salvation in Jesus Christ out of free grace. This is evident in the beginning of this first article. The Confession does not climb up from man to God but comes down from God to man.

It has pleased the Lord to reveal something of Himself in nature and in Scripture. We must not try to understand God; this is impossible. A small shell cannot contain the whole ocean; neither can man understand God, Who is endless and infinite. God is a Spirit, one in Being, three in Persons. A spirit has no body, is invisible, cannot be portrayed. We know that the Bible speaks figuratively about God’s eye, His hand, etc, but it then speaks of the Lord in a human way so that we can better understand the meaning. We can see with our eyes; in the same manner the Lord says that His eyes go over all things — meaning that He is all-knowing, omniscient.

Here we are speaking of God’s attributes or virtues, which are revelations of God Himself, but which also areGod Himself. God is called Love, but this is also one of His attributes. In like manner He is said to be Light, the Life, the Truth, etc. These attributes are not different and distinct from each other; in man attributes can be contrary to each other, but not in God.

So here is spoken of God’s simplicity, to distinguish Him from the heathen’s thoughts of their gods or idols, which are not Gods at all. The simplicity of God excludes the belief that God is composed of several parts. Man is composed of mind, heart, will and affections, but it is not so with the Lord. He is everything that He can be, and He cannot become more perfect by anything outside of Himself. God’s simplicity makes Him greater and richer. This teaches us also that each of the attributes in the Divine Being is not a partof His Being, but it contains everything which belongs to God. We know these things are difficult for our mind to understand; however, we are not to understand everything about God, but to believe that which is written. The Confession states that God is a spiritual Being, which the Lord Jesus has affirmed in John 4:24, “God is a Spirit”.

This article of our Confession continues by mentioning some of God’s attributes. The first is God’s eternity. This means that He is without any beginning, without any succession or difference of time, and without end. “Time” has not always existed; in the beginning God created the time. But God Himself is above the time. We cannot exactly explain what time is, as it is an abstract thing. Time is the existence of things one after the other, but for the Lord there is not yesterday, today or tomorrow. It is written in Psalm 90, “from eternity to eternity Thou art God.”

God is also incomprehensible, which means that we cannot understand Him. Some (well-intentioned) people have tried to find in nature a way to convince the atheist that there is a God, but this is impossible. God is great and we understand Him not. Zophar gives the answer in Job 11: “Canst thou by searching find out God?”

God is also invisible, even though in a human way we speak of parts of God’s body, as we explained above. It is true that God can make Himself visible to man, as He has done in appearances. Then He took a body to show Himself to man, but in His Essence He is invisible. After such an appearance, the Lord laid such a body aside.

He is also immutable, that is, unchangeable, as we can learn from His greatest Name — Jehovah. In Psalm 102 we read: “All shall wax old, but Thou art the same and Thy years shall have no end”. This is important against the evolution theory and against the Pantheists, who say that God is changing with the world. It is a great comfort for God’s children that God is unchangeable and faithful, even though they are often forgetting the Lord.

From our youth we have learned that the Lord is omnipresent, without limits. Here in the Confession it is called infinite. This should fill us with fear, because He sees everything that we are doing. On the other hand the Lord also knows what is living in our hearts, when we cannot miss him anymore.

The Lord is also almighty. God can perform everything if it is not against His Essence, as God cannot be against Himself. Once in a catechism class the question was asked, “What can the Lord, as the Almighty One, notdo?” A girl answered, “The Lord cannot refuse to help a poor sinner.” We hope that this may be the experience of many readers!

That the Lord is perfectly wise can be found throughout God’s Word and can be seen in the ways which the Lord keeps with His children here on earth. Wisdom is more than knowledge; wisdom is to oversee a situation and make the right decision.

God is also just. He will punish the wicked and will out of free grace reward His children. HIs justice is not the opposite of His goodness, but they are related, Psalm 33:5, “He loveth righteousness and judgment; the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.”

This article ends by stating that God is the overflowing fountain of all good. In Him is everything that we need for time and eternity. We can only rest in Him through Jesus Christ.

This has been only a few words about God’s attributes, but I hope that in the way of experience through the teaching of the Holy Spirit we may learn more about them.

Rev. A. M. Den Boer, Norwich, Canada

BIBLE QUIZ

Dear Boys and Girls —

The time of year when we have our Thanksgiving Day has again arrived. For some it has already passed by, especially for those in Canada where it is held in October. But whether in October or November, it is a day in which to acknowledge the Lord for His blessings upon us as families, as churches, and as nations. How many blessings are unnoticed by us in our every-day life, but how we complain if we must miss something. What a far greater blessing it would be if the Lord would cause us to see what a great wonder it is that we are yet given any blessings, and how right it would be if we had nothing. Then for every blessing we would be thankful, and could sing with the psalmist, “Not unto us, O Lord of heaven, but unto Thee be glory given.”

The first letters of our quiz are five words found in Psalm 92. Here are the questions —

When Solomon dedicated the temple, he prayed saying, “Lord God of Israel, there is no God like Thee in _________________above or on earth beneath.”

When Joseph was about to die, he said to his brethren, “God will surely visit you and bring you _________________of this land.”

Elihu said to Job, “Stand still and consider the_______________ works of God.” (Job 37)

On the sixth day of creation we read that the Lord saw everything that He had made and, behold, it was very________________

And God________________ on the seventh day from all His work which He had made.

What was the name of the stone which Samuel set up, saying, “Hitherto hath the Lord helped us”?

Mordecai wrote to all the Jews that they should keep the 14th and 15th day of what month in every year as a special day?

When the Lord Jesus was in a house, some brought a man with a palsy and let him down through the _______________with his couch into their midst before Jesus.

In Psalm 145 we read, “One generation shall praise Thy works to another, and shall declare Thy mighty_______________”.

Solomon said, “________________

now thy Creator in the days of thy youth”.

At the beginning of the commandments, the Lord said, “I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of ____________.”

Naaman said to Elisha, “Behold, now I know that______________ is no God in all the earth, but in Israel.”

In Psalm 19 is written, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth His

Of Zacharias and Elizabeth we read, “They had no child, … and they both were now well stricken in ________________.”

In Psalm 44 we find written, “We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what ________________Thou didst in their days.”

In the same Psalm we also read, “They got not the land in possession by their______________ arm.”

As the children of Israel travelled into the wilderness, the Lord said to Moses, ‘‘Behold, I will

_________________ bread from heaven for you.”

Nebuchadnezzar said to Daniel, “Of a truth it is that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of

When Samuel told Eli what the Lord had said to him during the night, Eli said, “It is the Lord, let Him do what __________________Him good.”

(Send your answers to Garret Moerdyk, 1104 Roseland Avenue, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001.)

The answers to the quiz in the October issue are as follows:

“The Just Shall Live

By Faith” Romans 1:17

Ten Luke 17:11–14

Hannah I Samuel 1:15–17

Elkanah I Samuel 1:2

Jordan II Kings 5:9–10

Unspeakable II Corinthians 9:15

Siloam John 9:17

Three Exodus 2:2

Slime Exodus 2:3

Heaven II Kings 7:1–2

Abana II Kings 5:11–12

Line Joshua 2:18

Lord Joshua 6:16

Leah Genesis 49:28–31

Isaac Genesis 22:7–8

Verily John 3:3

Enoch Genesis 5:24

Bones Genesis 50:25

Years Hebrews 11:24

Fight II Timothy 4:7

Alexander II Timothy 4:14

Israel Matthew 15:22–24

Thessalonica II Timothy 4:10

Help Mark 9:24

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

Beth Schelling (2)

Kathryn Lynn Schelling (2)

Brenda Kay Schelling (2)

Linda Schelling (2)

Kent Schelling (2)

Amy Mieras

William Slingerland

Robert John Southway

Maria Boonzaayer

Nellie Slingerland

Joanne Slingerland

Jannie Slingerland

Neil Slingerland

John Verhey

Margot Mast

Ella Kieboom

Arline Kieboom

Joan Lugthart

Marilyn De Maagd

Mary Van Oostenbrugge

Karl Van Oostenbrugge

John Blok

Gary Blok

Marilyn Van Ravenswaay

Jo Ann Van Ravenswaay

Esther Van Ravenswaay

Norman Van Ravenswaay

Janice Stapel

John Stapel

Ruth Boonzaayer

Ellen Polderman

Karel Boonzaayer

Linda Kamp

Mary Kamp

Henry Kamp

Linda Bazen

Connie Fay Bouma

Kimberly Ann Schoonbeek

Amy Kaat

Kathy Greyn

Denise Zaremba

Mike Van Bemden

Carol Van Bemden

Kathy Van Bemden

Mary Van Giessen

Randy Van Giessen

Gary Van Giessen

Stanley Vander Waal

Perry Hoogendoorn

Gene Hoogendoorn

Cindy Hoogendoorn

Liz Van Giessen

Kathy Van Giessen

Ralph Van Zweden

Mary Van Zweden

Janet Van Zweden

Mark Van Zweden

John Van Zweden

Joan Van Zweden

David Kwekel

Nancy Kwekel

Daniel J. Sweetman

Jenny Lee Sweetman

Judy Sweetman

Laurie Sweetman

Janet Sweetman

Carrie Jane Blok

Richard Rosendall

John Rosendall

Julie Frens

Mary Frens

Sharon Frens

Leonard Frens

Elaine Frens

Marilyn Kamp

Debbie Kamp

Tom Kamp

Bill Kamp

John Vander Boon

Lynn Kamp

Becky Markus

Lisa Markus

Julie Ann DeBruine

Bill Kroesbergen

Hendrika Kroesbergen

Gordon Boluyt

Steven Boluyt

Richard DeBat

Joylynn Mast

Jane Mast

Neil Mast

George Van Strien

William Greendyk

Leah VanTilburg

Mary VanTilburg

Kevin Verbeke

Susan Blaak

Bill Blaak

Tammy Kaat

Andy Van Stelle

Tim Van Stelle

Sue Van Ess

Rick Van Ess

Ruth Bouma

Albert Bouma

Bobby Boerkoel

Christine Koppert

Elizabeth Koppert

Nelly Koppert

Gladys Van Bochove

Rhonda Van Bochove

Donna Marie Hubers

Helen Hubers

Marcia Hubers

Harriet Hubers

Ellen Kroes

James Sweetman

Irene van Heek

Edward van Heek

Lenny van Heek

Martin Peter Vlietstra

Janice Vlietstra

Carol Mol

Ken Van Wingerden

Bill Van Wingerden

Teresa Vander Meulen

Sidney Vander Meulen

Harmen Vander Meulen

Joyce Vander Meulen

Frances Vander Meulen

Francina Boesterd

Lisa Neels

Jim Rosendall

Laura Rosendall

Rhonda Van Voorst

Marguerite Kroesbergen

Joanne Kroesbergen

Steve Van Gemert

Julie Van Gemert

Harold Schut

Elizabeth Sisco

David Greendyk

Paul Greendyk

? (Lethbridge)

Mary Kievit

Audrey Kievit

Bill Van Der Weide

Nicholas Bush

Adrian Bush

Tim Westrate

Mark Heystek

Kaye VandeBerg

Mark VandeBerg

John Martin VanderWiele

Jane Ellen VanderWiele

Judy Lynn Vander Wiele

Minda Van Ravenswaay

Joel Van Ravenswaay

Alane Van Ravenswaay

Jany de Kok

Cornell de Kok

Henry de Kok

And now we shall answer the letters which we have again received —

AMY KAAT — Are there other animals besides the squirrels which eat the chestnuts in the winter, Amy? You must have picked up quite a few chestnuts. What is the name of the Bible class book which you use in your class?

JANICE VLIETSTRA — You have quite a few animals to care for, Janice. Which ones do you take care of? Or does your little sister Debbey get all of your attention? I am certain that she gets lots of attention. Were there others in your family who had the measles and the whooping cough?

KENT SCHELLING — To find time to do all the things that should be done is not always so easy, Kent. And school work is quite important, so I am sure it shouldn’t be pushed to one side. How are you doing in school this year? I see that there are two letters from you this time.

ARLINE KIEBOOM — We are all quite well, Arline. We have had some cooler weather, but today it was quite nice again. Did you have a good trip to Iowa and South Dakota? When winter weather arrives, it is not so easy to make such trips.

FRANCINA BOESTERD — It had been quite some time since we heard from you, Francina. But when you do write, I can expect a nice long letter. You did real well picking berries during the summer. But I can imagine that there was lots of work involved. Say Hello to your family.

HAROLD SCHUT — We are happy to have you join in answering the Bible quiz, Harold. It does take some work, but there is so much to learn in the Bible. We hope that we may hear from you again next month. Are you the oldest in your family?

MARY VAN ZWEDEN — Did you finish reading the book which you received from Sunday school, Mary? I read the same book recently and found it quite a nice book to read. Was your Sunday school held in Sioux Falls? Or do you travel to Rock Valley for it?

LISA NEELS — It is quite a trip to South Africa, Lisa. I am sure your grandfather and grandmother will have much to tell about their trip. Do you have cousins living there? Michigan is quite near in comparison to South Africa.

CONNIE FAY BOUMA — We had some snow flakes, Connie, but they didn’t stay long on the ground. You certainly have quite a distance to go to school. This month there were not quite so many who answered the quiz, but I think the mail service was very slow in making deliveries of the September issue.

LENNY VAN HEEK — I was glad to see that your family was doing the Bible quiz together, Lenny. There is so much to learn from God’s Word. We hope that many families do the same. Do you know the names of the books of the Bible in order?

LINDA SCHELLING — I imagine those seven calves are happy to see you when you bring their milk, Linda. Or maybe they are more anxious to see the milk in the pail than they are to see you. I am thinking what a true picture it is of man by nature — so anxious for blessings, but no feeling for the Giver of those blessings.

EDWARD VAN HEEK — You do well in penmanship, Edward. It sometimes takes a little longer to do things neatly, but it is the better way. Do you like school this year? I suppose you find the work a little more difficult than last year. What are you studying about?

BETH SCHELLING — The first time I was in Iowa your great-grandfather was still living, Beth. We visited at his house. That must have been in 1938. Have you read the book which was written by him? These books and instructions of our forefathers are better than the silver and gold which is often left as an inheritance.

CAROL MOL — You asked about the stamps which are collected for the mission. We send them on to the Netherlands where they are able to sell them in large quantities. I notice in the last mission paper (Paulus) that more than 900 gulden was received for them since their previous report two months before. So you can see, Carol, that it is worthwhile saving them.

HELEN MOERKERKEN — How nice to hear from another young friend in Australia, Helen. We are also glad to hear that you enjoy reading the Banner of Truth. Since you would like a pen-pal, we will give your address to our readers. I am sure there will be a girl your age who would like to write you. (Helen’s address is 88 Hopewood Crescent, Fairy Meadow, New South Wales, Australia, 2519. She is 12 years old.)

This is again the end of our letters. Many thanks to all of the boys and girls from whom we hear each month with Bible quiz replies and letters. The Lord willing, we hope to hear from all of you again next month.

With love,
Your friend
“Uncle Garret”

THE BROKEN LEG

A broken leg is not a pleasant thing, as some of you know by experience. Yet a good Christian minister, named Mr. Gilpin, who lived in the days of the cruel Queen Mary of England, had reason to be thankful for it.

He was actually on his way to London, where he was to be tried for daring to preach the gospel. As he travelled, he fell and broke his leg. It was, of course, impossible for him to proceed on his journey for some time, and the man who was in charge of him said with a sneer: “You say that nothing happens to God’s people but what is for their good. Do you think your broken leg is for your good?”

“I do not doubt that it is,” replied Mr. Gilpin meekly; and his faith was rewarded.

Before he was able to travel, Queen Mary had died, and Mr. Gilpin was allowed to return to his parish, where he was welcomed by crowds of people who blessed God for the deliverance of their beloved pastor.

Men are so apt in bringing evil out of good, that we can but admire the wisdom and kindness of God in bringing good out of evil for His people. They thus learn that, when blessed of God, “the bitter is sweet, the medicine in food.”

CHRIST REVEALED THE PILLAR OF CLOUD AND FIRE, A TYPE.

The pillar of cloud.

When the Lord in His wise providence appointed to lead the children of Israel, for the space of forty years, through the dry, uncouth, and terrible wilderness, Himself undertook to be their Guide, and for their certain direction in their ways, He appointed them this visible sign of His presence for their motion or station, by night or by day, through all their pilgrimage. Concerning this cloud let us inquire:

1. Of the kind.

2. Of the difference between it and other clouds.

3. Of the use of this Cloudy Pillar.

4. How (it was) a type of Christ.

1. Q. What kind of cloud was this?

A. Not natural, but supernatural and miraculous, yea, one of the great miracles that the Lord continued all the while of their journey, which was forty years. Those four great miracles were:

1. The not swelling of their feet (Deut. 8:4).

2. Their apparel not wearing out, or not waxing old.

3. The feeding of them with daily manna (vers. 3 and 16), and water out of the rock (verse 15).

4. This pillar.

2. Q. Was there any difference between this and other clouds?

A. Yes, in five things: 1. The matter. 2. The fashion. 3. The motion. 4. The properties. 5. The durance.

1. The matter of it was not of vapours as other clouds, nor apt to engender rain; but framed by the Lord besides and above the ordinary course of nature.

2. The fashion. It kept still in the figure of a pillar, whereas other clouds continually alter their shape and figure every moment.

3. The motion. Other clouds removed by the wind, this moved itself, yea, though the winds moved most strongly, it stood still. Besides, that the motion of it was certain, and inimitable, so as they might follow it, but so was it never in any other cloud.

4. It had contrary properties, of light and darkness; being a pillar of cloud and fire.

5. In durance. For one cloud to continue firm and stable for forty years long, must needs be miraculous, whereas nothing is sooner dispersed than ordinary clouds, by wind and weather. In all which regards it, is called the cloud of the Lord (Num. 14:14). Not that all clouds are not His, but because this was so after a special and extraordinary manner.

3. Q. What was the use of this cloudy pillar?

A. Threefold; the first in respect to God, the second in respect to the Israelites, the third in respect of their enemies (Num. 14:14).

First. In respect of God. It was a sign and symbol of the presence of God and Christ. For God is often pleased to manifest His presence by clouds; as when He sets His bow in the clouds, a sign of His favor: God in a cloud appeared to Moses (Exod. 19:9). God appeared in a cloud upon the oracle (Lev. 16:2). So Christ in the mount was transfigured in a bright cloud. In His ascending, He was taken out of their sight in a cloud. And in His coming again to judgment, He shall appear in the clouds to judge the quick and dead.

Secondly. In respect of the Israelites.

1. To show and direct them the way, as a faithful and constant guide through the wilderness: for when it moved, they must move, when it stood they must stand (Ps. 78:14). In the daytime also He led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire, which seems the chief use of it (Exod. 13:21).

2. To shine and lighten in the way, so as they might go by night as well as by day, so in Ps. 78:14, noted also in Exod. 13:21.

3. To cool and comfort them (as a shadow) from the parching heat of the sun, Ps. 105:39: “He spread a cloud for a covering,” or canopy over them. To which the prophet (Isa. 4:5) alluding, calls it a covering cloud, which shadow was no small comfort in that hot country, in that parched and dry desert, they still lying and living abroad in it.

4. As a shield to defend against their enemies, for the cloud came between the host of Israel and the host of the Egyptians to separate between them. And therefore it is called (Num. 9:19) the charge of the Lord, actively watching over their safety, passively, which they carefully watched and attended. Thirdly. In respect of the enemies. It was darkness to the Egyptians (Exod. 14:20). For the Lord used two of His creations against the Egyptians especially, water and the cloud as means of execution of His justice upon His enemies. As the cloud and fire shall be serviceable for the execution of His last and general judgment at Christ’s second appearing.

4. Q. Wherein was this cloud pillar a type of Christ?

A. In five respects. 1. As a pillar. 2. Of cloud. 3. Of fire. 4. Of cloud and fire.

5. In the use of it.

1. As a pillar it signified Christ, Who as a pillar is firm, stable, straight, strong, and as a pillar able to support His church, and to bear up all the living stones laid on this foundation.

2. As a pillar of cloud. a. As a cloud naturally engendereth fruitful rains and showers, so Christ properly, by the influence and rain of grace, makes the field of the church fresh, fruitful and flourishing. b. As the cloud mitigates the heat of the sun, so Jesus Christ quencheth and allayeth the parching heat of His Father’s wrath and is the covering of His church in this dry and parched wilderness. So as when the soul of a man is dried up and fainted within through heat of his sin, then He refresheth with the sweet and comfortable doctrine of the Gospel (as with the sweet rain) the distressed conscience. He it is that speaketh a word to the weary in due season. c. As the cloud covereth Israel from the Egyptian’s fury, so Jesus Christ defends His church. 1. From the fiery darts and assaults of satan’s temptations. 2. From the furious rage of our own lusts, and inflammation of sin. 3. Shelters it from the heat of the sun of persecution, and from all bodily foes, that they cannot do what they will, but what He permits.

3. Christ was signified by the fiery part of the pillar. For — 1. As fire hath quickening heat in it, so hath Jesus Christ, Who is the life of the world, but especially of His church and elect. 2. As fire hath light, so is Christ the true light of the world, Whom, whosoever believeth, he needs no other light nor knowledge to salvation, no more than Israel any light in the night but this. All God’s people walk by this fiery pillar and not by other. 3. As fire purgeth and purifieth metals from dross, so doth Jesus Christ purge His people from all their sins, partly by the fire of His Spirit within (Matt. 3:11) and perfectly by His blood which cleanseth from all sin (1 John 1:7).

4. As a pillar both of fire and cloud, it signified Christ in His — 1. Person. 2. Actions.

l.In His Person. Being a pillar both of fire and cloud, it was both light and darkness, signifying Christ Jesus, God and man, both shining in the brightness of the glory of His Deity, and at the same time clouded, veiled, darkened, and obscured in a lowly and despised humanity, in which, to the blind world, was no form nor beauty (Isa. 53:2), and as both fire and cloud make but one pillar, so God and man one Christ. 2. In His actions. For, 1. As the pillar of fire and cloud. Christ both enlightens the Israel of God to salvation, and is darkness at the same time, to all Egyptians; that is, a stumbling-block and stone of offence to unbelievers. For, 2. As the same Pillar, Christ both openeth the way of the Red Sea to believers, giving the grace of Jehovah through the Red Sea of His blood, as also justly shutting obstinate sinners from His grace and favor; the means of which (being set before them) they wilfully tread under foot, turning all the grace of Christ to their deeper damnation. 3. As the same piller of cloud and fire, Christ is the Guide of all the Israel of God, Whom we must follow in all our journey through our wilderness, both in the rules of His holy doctrine, as also of His blessed Example. Therefore Himself saith, “Follow Me,” as they were to follow that cloud, for that was but a type of this, leading us unto Canaan. 4. As that same pillar of cloud and fire. Jesus Christ protects His church from all enemies. He steps between the camps of the Israelites and Egyptians, becoming their sure defence (Ps. 18:1, 2). This Pillar shall never rest till the dead bodies of the Egyptians and enemies become a spoil and spectacle to His people. 5. In the infallible instruction of it, it typified Christ. For as the Lord spake to Moses out of the cloudy pillar, when it descended upon the tabernacle, and delivered His oracles in it (Exod. 33:9), so Jesus Christ alone is the cloudyPillar by Whom the Lord delivers to us His whole counsel concerning our happy passage through this our wilderness to that blessed Canaan, the happy rest of all the saints. And as they must hear and obey absolutely those oracles, so we are commanded to hear Him (Matt. 17:5). Rev. I. Taylor, 1653.

NOT YET

“Not yeat,” said a little boy, as he was busy with his trap and ball. “When I grow older I will think about my soul.” The little boy grew to be a young man.

“Not yet,” said the young man. “I am now about to enter into trade. When I see my business prosper, then I shall have more time than now.” Business did prosper.

“Not yet,” said the man of business. “My children must have my care. When they are settled in life I shall be better able to attend to my soul.” He lived to be a grey-headed old man.

“Not yet,” still he cried. “I shall soon retire from trade, and then I shall have nothing else to do but to read and pray.”

And so he died. He lived without God, and died without hope. Reader, how is it with you? (The Little Gleaner)

BORN AGAIN?

Unconverted reader, the Word of God sets before you a new mould into which you must be cast. It professes to work a great change in you, in the hands of the eternal Spirit, not of opinions only, but of your nature, of your heart. Is this done? Do not turn away from the question; do not lightly pass it by — your all depends upon the answer to it. Eternity hangs upon the issue. I ask not what you hold, what you know, or what you profess, but — what you are. Are you born again? Are you a new creature? Do not say, “peace, peace, when there is no peace.” You may persuade yourself, or be persuaded by others, that regeneration is all enthusiasm, a delusion and a lie, and yet,

“This fearful truth will still remain,

The sinner must be born again,

Or sink to endless woe.”

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