WILLIAM THE SILENT

Perhaps some people may think that I want to write about William of Orange, who is also often called the "Silent".

However, that is not my intention. I want to write about a man who, although he had another name, formerly was named thus among the people. He was a man with grace; a man who had a place with the Lord, but also in the hearts of God's children. It was during the time when there were many more assemblies than in our days. Now, also, where there are still people of God, they become more and more estranged from each other. There is so little "income" and for that reason also, but little outlay.

One of our former, unforgettable preachers said from the pulpit, "Those who always take in, will in time give out."

But, ah, how little is being given out. How little need there is everywhere, and how much barrenness also in the means instituted by God. If there are no empty vessels, then there is no oil.

But perhaps there are among my readers some who shall say, "Empty hearts not being filled?" How shall I describe the misery in which we live and move? And all that because of our sins. We grieve God's Spirit and quench God's Spirit. If we were only made honest, then we would confess it. There are only a few left who may still have true communion with God. And they are hardly. understood anymore; they are persecuted, suspected, hated, misjudged because it is heard so little, and also because our life, if that is lacking, is condemned thereby.

And who wants to be condemned? We only want to keep ourself standing with a shrivelled, lifeless, cold and unfeeling orthodoxy. We refuse to blush with shame, and we continue in our own ways. And that would never change if we had to do it. But blessed is a David to whom the Lord sends a Nathan. One of God's departed servants, when he spoke about it said, "That would either cost Nathan's head or David's heart." The latter became true.

I have wandered away again from my subject. Ah yes, all people do not have the gift to remain with their point. Paul wrote, "Would to God that you could bear with me a little."

But that man at that assembly had a peculiar habit. Most of the time he said nothing and just let others talk. There was so much strife within; he had so many inward talkers. But he could not remain quiet. Near the end of the meeting, then often his mouth was opened, and then people listened to him with pleasure. His words were sprinkled with salt. They were weighty. At one time, an aged tried friend, in whose company I have also been favored to be, said, "How strange it is, William, that you always put your gold pieces on the table when it is time to close." According to that expression, the people had great respect for what he brought forth. There are people who edify more when they keep silent than when they speak. Yes, there are all sorts of people in the world. Really, at times one is afraid to ask something of certain people because when they commence, then it is no longer possible to stop them. Some people make us so weary.

But with this man it was different. He was often burdened and afraid that he would say too much. Of course, God's people can never make it right. Most of the time they are accused after they have spoken, and they also receive blows when they have said nothing. If they have spoken, then after that it is often, "You only sought your own honor and did not seek God's honor."

If they have said nothing, then the inward talkers say, "It has only been self-love that you did not open your mouth. You are afraid of being searched." At another time it is again, "It can clearly be seen that you are a hypocrite because when you sit among the people, then you dare not open your mouth. God has formed His people to show forth His praise, and you sat there as a dumb man, so, you are outside of it."

David tells us in Psalm 116:10: "I believed, therefore have I spoken."

It is a privilege when God loosens our tongue and it may be as it was with that deaf mute, "And the string of his tongue was loosed and he spoke plain.

Alas, our own ego can hardly remain out of it. It may happen once in this life, but. . . then God must do it, and in general, it shall only be for a short time. In Paradise we have fallen toward ourselves and the devil, and we must bear the consequences thereof as long as we live here upon earth. We seek ourselves in everything, and even if all trees were clubs, it will take as long as we live in this dispensation to beat that ego out of us.

It is a strife till the end. Yet it is also to be considered a great privilege when a child of God may be endowed with humble boldness, and may speak to the edification of his neighbor.

There are souls who for years and years walk the earth as one bound, who must say, "I am shut up and cannot come forth."

Of course, we must not understand this as if those souls never open their mouth. Ask them whether they never pour out their heart before God. Lay it at their feet whether they never submit their way and life to the Lord. They shall not dare to answer, "No". We read in Job 30:7 of people that pray among the bushes. They have no boldness before the people, but they have an opening at the throne of grace. From the moment that God has quickened them from death to life, they have begun to cry to God. And even though the enemy had cried within their soul, "There is no help for you in God," yet that has not been able to silence them. No, however miserable they may often be, and however dark on all sides, wounded by the darts from hell, yet the entire power of hell can not remove prayer from those people.

Their eyes pour out tears unto God. At times their burden is lightened and the yoke is taken off their jaws and meat is laid to them, but ah, before they are then with and among the people, so much has come upon them, and so much strife has followed it that their mouth is as it were screwed shut again, and silently they returned home. They say at times, "Lord, must I always keep silence? Shall the enemy gain the victory all the time?"

But, if during their life, what we read in Isa. 35:4 is fulfilled and confirmed, "Behold, your God will come with a vengeance, even God with a recompence. He will come and save you," then the result is that the tongue of the dumb shall sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out and streams in the desert.

Then those people can no longer keep silence. When Samuel was born, then Hannah went to worship the Lord. Then she rejoiced in the Lord; her mouth was enlarged over her enemies. Yea, there all the vexing and nettling of Peninnah had to cooperate for her benefit. Then all God's ways lead to the adoration and praise of that Infinite Being.

Sometimes it happens that souls, who formerly proclaimed the works of God, walk about with a closed mouth. It may be as a trial that through deep ways they must learn lessons which they had never learned before, as it was in the life of Job. It also happens because we depart from the Lord, and we forsook our first love. How men may grieve and quench god's Spirit. How we then bring darkness over our soul. By loose living, by cherishing evil in heart and life, and by conformity to the world, we are liable to be drawn into great and heinous sins, as our fathers remarked in the Canons of Dort. Think of Samson. He even came in prison. How that Nazarite of God came under a heavy censure! Paul and Silas sang God's praises in prison, but Samson had to keep silence, and just sat there condemned between those walls. But to Samson, who at one time was so richly blessed by God, God has confirmed:

"For him my mercy shall endure, My covenant made with him is sure."

On the last day of his life, his mouth had been opened; he was favored to call upon God and has also been delivered by God. Although he was buried under the debris, and had to end his life in prison, yet he still speaks after his death, Heb. 11:32.

One day, all of God's people shall sing of God's mercy.

Then there shall be no more silence, but the high praises of God shall be in their mouth.

The greatest wonder shall be that we may be one of those people. And that shall be only:

Through Thee, through Thee alone because of Thine eternal good pleasure.

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