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SHALL WE HAVE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS? But the king who has thus abdicated has unquestion­ AS HAS been indicated elsewhere in THE PRESBY- ably great hosts of sympathizers, and unquestionably TERIAN GUARDIAN, a meeting is to be held at the the trend of the times is in favor of toleration for the Whittier Hotel in Philadelphia on the 'evening of sin which he is contemplating. January 11th to consider the question of the forming As for liberty, that is almost everywhere prostrate. of Christian schools. We regard that question as a Fascism and communism, superficially opposed to each very momentous question indeed, and bespeak a very other but really twin sisters, are threatening to divide earnest attention to it on the part of all our readers. the world between them; and it seems doubtful whether If one looks out upon the condition of the world persons who believe in civil and religious liberty will today, one has to be very blind not to see that some­ very long be allowed anywhere a place in the sun. thing is radically wrong. Of course something has al­ Underlying this widespread decadence in the field ... ways been radically wrong ever since the fall of man. of conduct is a decadence in the field of thought. The But when we say that something is radically wrong licentiousness of the age is not due merely to a dis­ with the age in which we are now living, we are re­ regard of recognized moral standards; it is due rather ferring to something more specific than that great to the fact that there are no recognized moral standards. central fact of the presence of sin in the world. What Immoral conduct is quite generally defended by im­ we mean is that the deadly evil of sin is becoming par­ moral doctrine. The existence of the law of God is ticularly blatant in the present age, and that the sweet denied. Men no longer believe that there is any very and gentle influences of the gospel of Christ somehow profound difference between right and wrong. seem for the time to be stayed in their working. In the midst of such a world stands the Christian Compare the state of public opinion today with that Church. We are not referring to the merely nominal which prevailed forty or fifty years ago, and you will Christian Church; we are not referring to ecclesiastical see that something little short of a moral revolution has bodies like the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. that come about. Forty or fifty years ago public opinion, at have officially dethroned Jesus Christ and that refuse to tolerate real Christian testimony within their mem­ .., least in Great Britain and America, was in the main I favorable to decency and to liberty. Today it is increas­ bership or within their ministry; we are not referring f ingly unfavorable to both of these things. to the Federal Council of Churches with its pseudo­ It is true, there are here and there indications that Christian, Modernist preaching mission under the the sense of decency is not altogether dead. Even the leadership of those who do not believe in the truth of enormous prestige of custom could not quite enable the God's Word. But we are referring to the real Christian King of England to remain on the throne when he con­ Church. Weare referring to those ecclesiastical bodies templated marrying Mrs. Simpson. The abdication of that really do endeavor with some sort of faithfulness King Edward was certainly a victory for Christian to obey the commands which are found in the Word morality. of God. Weare referring tb those groups of Christian

The Presbyterian Guardian Is published twice a month by The Presbyterian Guardian Publishing Company. at the following rates. payable. In advance. for either old or new subscribers in any part of the world. postage prepaid: $1.00 per year; five or more copies. either to separate addresses or in a Package to one address. 80c each per year: Introductory rate. for new subscribers only: Two and a half months for 25c: IDe per copy. Address all editorial correspondence to: The Rev. Ned B. Stonehouse. Th.D. No resPOJlSlblllty Is asswned for unsolicited manuscripts. EdItorial and Business Omees: 1212 Commonwealth Building. Philadelphia. Penna.

t r ,ft t 134 THE PRESBYTERIAN GUARDIAN

people who are honestly endeavoring to make use of Iar services of the Church. The Sunday School, also, is the means of grace which God has provided for His an important agency. Its sad decadence is one of the people upon this earth. most important causes of the defection in the Church, What shall they do in the midst of a hostile world? and much good can be done if it is improved. How shall they be God's instruments in preserving His All these agencies, however, are faced by a terrible Church from the engulfing paganism? handicap. It is found in the attendance by the children of the covenant, during five or six days in the week, Whatever the answer to that question may be in de­ upon non-Christian public schools. tail, one thing surely is clear. It is that the efforts of the true Church ought to be directed particularly to There was a time in the history of our country when the nurture of the children. Even experience shows the evil of this policy was somewhat disguised. In the that that is the case. Ask any company of earnest days of "the little red schoolhouse," no doubt teachers Christian men and women, especially those who have in the public schools were usually Christians and the given themselves to the ministry, and you will usually evils of secular instruction, though they were 'always find that the overwhelming majority of them received present, were apparently kept within bounds. Today, if their Christian convictions in their youth, through the school-houses are "red," we very much fear that they nurture of Christian parents or Christian pastors or are apt to be "red" in some other way than by the ap­ teachers. It is a natural instinct in those who are opposed plication of red paint on the outside. At any rate, from to the Christian Faith that they desire to get their grip state universities down, the anti-Biblical character of on the children-through paternalistic government con­ public instruction is becoming increasingly clear. trol or in other ways. So it should be a very powerful What shall be done about it? instinct in Christian people that they should desire to Well, various palliative measures are being proposed. influence the children for good, as atheistic or agnostic Some of them-like the introduction into public schools governments seek to influence them for evil. of "character education" based on considerations of But it should be far more than an instinct in Chris­ expediency-are positively harmful. Others of them, tian people. The truth is that the nurture of the children like the required reading of the Bible in public schools is rooted deep in the commands of the Word of God. (it is, alas, apt to be a sadly garbled Bible even if According to Reformed doctrine, baptized children are Modernist or indifferentist propaganda can really be members of the Church. They are children of the eliminated) are at least dangerous. All of them are covenant. Surely, then, they should be treated as such. woefully inadequate. Surely, the Church, whatever else it may neglect, should The real remedy, as over against these makeshifts, not neglect the instruction of its own children, in order is found in the establishment of Christian schools. that when they come to years of discretion they may Fortunately we have in this country a splendid ex­ confirm the vows made for them in infancy, trusting ample of the way in which that can be done. Our Re­ in the Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation of their formed brethren, largely of the Christian Reformed souls and then growing up into stalwart Christian man­ Church, have established a splendid system of Christian hood and womanhood. schools, and very richly has God blessed them. Those How, then, shall this great work of instructing the schools are not under ecclesiastical control. In that they children be carried on? differ from parochial schools. But they are under the In many ways, no doubt. Most important of all is control of associations of truly Christian people and the work of the Christian home-family prayers, family they are doing a splendid work in building up the instruction in the Catechism and in the Word of God. children and youth in a solid knowledge of the Re­ Very important also is the work of the pulpit. It is a formed Faith as it is taught in God's Word. great calamity when children attend a "children's Dr. Cornelius Van Til, Professor of Apologetics in church," under the control often of uninstructed lay­ Westminster Seminary, formerly a minister in the men, instead of sitting with their parents in the family Christian Reformed Church and now a minister in pew. No doubt also young people's societies have their The Presbyterian Church of America, will discuss uses. They are a great evil when they lead young people Christian schools at the meeting to which reference has to attend their meetings instead of attending the evening already been made. Noone is better qualified to do so. service at which the pastor preaches; but they can be No matter what measures can immediately be taken, productive of much good if instead of being a rival the meeting offers a unique opportunity to obtain in­ to the evening service they make it their primary busi­ formation about a subject that is of vital concern to ness to support the evening service and the other regu- Christian people.

, .....------_: THE PR E5 BY T ER I A N G U A R D I A N 135

There Were Giants in Those Days A Review by the REV. CHARLES J. WOODBRIDGE

FIGHTING ANGEL, by Pearl S. Buck: a he to return to his adopted land, ec­ Miss Buck is out to prove her case John Day book, Reynal and Hitchcock, static when converts were made-this against these missionaries, and she New York. $2.50. was Andrew. Entirely independent of does not hesitate to use the weapon of H IS book is a vig- men, utterly dependent upon God, he exaggeration in order to accomplish Torous biography of went through life a "ruling minority this purpose. We were greatly sur­ the Rev. Andrew Sy­ of one," unmoved by threats, unre­ prised to discover that half a page of denstricker, Southern sentful of bitter words, always serene Fighting Angel is devoted to proving Presbyterian mission­ and confident. He was, his daughter that Dr. Woodbridge and Dr. Woods ary to China, and the writes, "the most stubborn man I ever of Chinkiang, where Andrew lived for father of Mrs. J. knew when God called him to a some years, were very quarrelsome Lossing Buck, the thing." His "obstinate, jutting jaw" men! That was back in the golden Mr. Woodbridge author. But it is more was a striking contrast to his "beauti­ nineties. Now it so happens that we than a biography. It is a mirror of ful, saintly, untroubled brow." were born in Chinkiang, and that one Pearl Buck's soul. "God had caught his soul and Cal­ of these quarrelsome missionaries was Fighting Angel is an intensely in­ vin had held it fast." our father. Dr. Woodbridge kept a teresting book. We have yet to see the Of such, we read, was the race of daily diary in those days. We spent person who has commenced to read it missionary pioneers prior to the year three hours the other night poring and laid it aside unfinished. The 1900. These were men with martyr over these diaries. There are many author of The Good Earth has ac­ blood coursing through their veins. references in them to Messrs. Syden­ complished her purpose: she has por­ With unflinching courage and daunt­ stricker and Woods. These "quarrel­ trayed for us a soul dedicated to God. less devotion they laid the foundations some" men, it seems, sang, prayed, Andrew, the hero of the story, was of Christian testimony in China. preached, examined candidates for one of that sturdy breed of missionary So far so good. But our author, baptism together, had the most cor­ giants who stalked across the plains while compelled to admire these iron dial social relationships. Not one word of China in the interests of the gospel men of God, yet reveals a subtle, so­ of "enmity" appears in these diaries. a generation ago. For more than fifty phisticated contempt for them and Either Dr. Woodbridge, who we, nat­ years he served his God in that coun­ their mission. She is writing from the urally biased, remember as a courte­ try before he fell asleep. standpoint of a Modern in morals, and ous Southern gentleman, knew that The picture presented to us is that a Modernist in religion. Throughout litera scripta manet and refrained of a tall American, spare, big-boned, the book she indulges in literary side­ from revealing in writing his quarrel­ with child-blue eyes, of a "lofty bear­ thrusts, seeking to discredit by innu­ some spirit, or else Miss Buck ex­ ing of great dignity," yet with a slight endo the Christian missionary enter­ aggerates. The latter is true! stoop. How well we remember Dr. prise. The immoral conduct of certain But we have said that this book is a Sydenstricker ! We have seen him missionaries is described in suggestive mirror of its author's soul. It reveals many times. With a constitution of and fabricated detail, for Pearl Buck her own deep-seated unhappiness, her steel and indefatigable energy he seeks to be the high priestess of Real­ unbelief, and what we regard as spir­ went forth proclaiming the gospel. ism Rampant. They were jealous, too, itual heimweh. Those were the days of "militant ex­ these men,-proud, intolerant, unmer­ Her father was supremely happy. pansion" in China. Deeper and deeper ciful. Their converts-merely a hand­ "Andrew," she writes, "was the hap­ into the vast interior of the Middle ful-were as often as not rascals who piest person I have ever known." In Kingdom these pioneer men of God had professed the faith for mercenary describing his joyous life, however, penetrated, utterly fearless in the ends. They were frequently "smug and she unconsciously reveals her own "magnificent imperialism" of their pious" rogues, with their "amazingly lack of inward peace. "He had this spirits. shifty eyes." They had joined the happiness: he espoused early a cause The author depicts for us Andrew church, many of them, in order to in which he believed all his life with­ in his Chinese clothes, his brain a very learn English, or to get a job. Andrew out a shadow of doubt." And so it was map of China, itinerating, preaching thanked God for his converts, he with his fellow-missionaries. Theirs the gospel, distributing tracts, teach­ brooded over them with fatherly con­ was "the peace of complete belief in ing converts-through rebellion and cern, for each convert meant "a new that which they lived, the absolute cer­ civil war, banditry and famine, hold­ number in the statistics." tainty of their minds, the total sur­ ing steadfastly to his one increasing It appears that life in those strenu­ render of their souls to that to which purpose,the proclamationof the gospel. ous days was a succession of quarrels they had committed themselves." Intolerant of sin, with his "restless, with magistrates and missionaries. What was the secret of their happi­ angry conscience," "rigorous with When those "early, quarrelsome men" ness, their peace, their power in the himself, unmerciful in his judgment got together at mission meeting, with gospel? Religion, says Miss Buck­ upon lesser men," never shirking his their "leathery skins and hard mouths though she knows very well that the duty, like a "chained and quarrelsome and bitter determined eyes," Andrew opposite is true-had nothing to do lion" when on furlough, so eager was was "a warrior with the best of them." with their strength of character. "The

. 136 THE PRESBYTERIAN GUARDIAN glory of God," she writes, "had made Occasionally her assertion has a tinge ling, where every summer we used them blind. They were drunk with of bitterness in it. Usually, however, to romp in days gone by, they buried love of God, so that they saw nothing she regards her unbelief as the natural Andrew with his little Greek Testa­ but His glory, could only see the one by-product of modern sophistication. ment beside him. necessity, that all others should be­ She writes of Andrew: "The philos­ We closed the book. A deep sense come like themselves.... Andrew be­ ophy of Confucius, so essentially that of shame swept over us. The world longed to the blind." of Jesus Christ, never once appeared would read this book. Tens of thou­ Blind, were they, Miss Buck? Re­ to him as of importance..•. He was sands would wipe away a tear as they member what Jesus said to the Phari­ exceedingly scornful in after years of read pityingly, and with a sophisti­ sees, "If ye were blind, ye should have those missionary souls, more deli­ cated satisfaction, of this religious nosin: but now ye say, We see; there­ cately balanced, who saw in the wis­ Don Quixote who went forth to meet fore your sin remaineth." dom of Confucius a means of a sort the entrenched forces of sin in a for­ No, "spiritual things are spiritually of salvation, after al1." It is clear that eign land. discerned." The author, not the mis­ in Miss Buck's mind the Modernist is And from the writing of this book sionaries, is blind. With great care she the "delicately balanced" sou1. thousands of American dollars,-dol­ has described the family prayers in But frequently we noted just the lars which Andrew had so gladly the Sydenstricker home. She has told slightest suggestion of regret that the given up for the sake of the gospel­ of Andrew's habitual hour of daily faith of her father was not her own. would pour into the lap of Pearl Buck. prayer. (So conscious of God's pres­ The author would be the first to deny His consecration she has commercial­ ence was he while praying that once it. But we could not but sense a wist­ ized; her literary gifts, bequeathed to in America, when called upon to lead fulness, a pathos, a homesickness, a her by godly parents, she has prosti­ in prayer, forgetting audience and all, feeling of spiritual unfulfillment as tuted. he began to speak to God in Chinese.) the author unconsciously reveals her­ And then a: prayer: God send us She has written of his unshakable self always outside the halo of her more giants,-men of God who will, confidence in the Word of God, his father's utter consecration to Christ. even in this our agnostic day, push constant, steady fellowship with the She will never entirely escape the in­ out into the pioneer lands beyond for covenant-keeping Father in heaven, fluence of that godly home. And who Jesus' sake. Yes, God send us more his quiet assurance of divine guid­ can tell but that some day Andrew's giants! ance, his unswerving allegiance to an prayers for the salvation of his little "incredibly narrow creed," which "ac­ children may be answered affirma­ cepts in entirety the miracle of virgin tively in her case? hirth, water changed into wine, the Pearl Buck-this is the missionary NEWS FROM dead raised to life, and the second ap­ who served for years under the Board THE PRESBYTERY pearance, hourly expected, of Christ." of Foreign Missions of the Presbyte­ his conviction of the exclusiveness of rian Church in the U.S.A. She is a OF WISCONSIN the .Christian faith. Yet she fails to Modernist, and she admits it. And her see that these Bible-believers were admission is truly refreshing in these E ET IN G in special session at happy because they did believe the days when Modernism stalks abroad M the home of the Rev. Oscar Bible and because they unfalteringly on the mission field in sheep's clothing. Holkeboer, of Oostburg, the Presby­ trusted the God of the Bible. Nowhere They refuse to believe us when we tery of Wisconsin on December 10th else is there happiness. assert that Modernism is a stark fact chose the Rev. W. H. Kielhorn, of Unbelief and happiness never go on the field. But they might believe Oxford, as moderator until the next hand in hand, although Miss Buck Miss Buck. In Fighting Angel she has General Assembly. Mr. Harold Hille­ tries to make herself believe that they been very frank on this subject. Will gas was re-elected stated clerk. may. the skeptic believe her testimony? The Rev. John J. De Waard and One of the saddest things in the The giants of Andrew's generation the Rev. Oscar Holkeboer were in­ life of a missionary is the inevitable are all gone now, she writes. "Those structed by the Presbytery to make separation between parents and chil­ who take their place in our modern every effort to form a new congrega­ dren when the latter -reach their teens times are shot through with doubt and tion in Milwaukee. and return to America to college. Miss distrust of themselves and their mes­ The same evening Mr. Holkeboer Buck's unbelief may be in part due sage. They talk of tolerance and was installed by the presbytery as to the early removal of parental con­ mutual esteem, of liberalizing educa­ pastor of the Bethel Church of Oost­ trol in her case. But even as a child tion and of friendly relations and all burg. The installation services were her "own private real life was lived such gentle feeble things. They see held in the Village Hall, temporary entirely elsewhere in a place where good in all religions and they no quarters of the Bethel congregation. there was no God at all." She felt her­ longer wage any more wars and they Speaker of the evening was the Rev. self fatherless, for Andrew "had given serve their lives out for a small se­ J. Oliver Buswell, Jr., D.D., President everything in him to God." "Great curity. There is no taste in them. I of Wheaton College and Moderator of missionary he was, intrepid soul, but can hear Andrew reading sternly the Second General Assembly. Mr. there was no fatherhood in him." His from the Book of Revelation, 'So then De Waard gave the charge to the pas­ daughter never felt really close to because thouart lukewarm, and neither tor and Mr. Kielhorn the charge to Andrew, nor to Andrew's God. cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of the people. An enthusiastic audience Today, as the world knows, Miss my mouth !' The giants are gone." of about 450 filled the Village Hall Buck openly asserts her unbelief. And there on the hillside in Ku- for this impressive service.

- DR. J. GRESHAM MACHEN DIES OF PNEUMONIA IN BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA

ORD has been received, too late rnained. Early that evening he went W for inclusion in this issue, of the to be with the Lord he had served so sudden death of the Rev. J. Gresham faithfully and well. Machen, D.D., Litt.D., at 7.30 P.M. on N either his brother and sister-in­ January 1, 1937. He died of lobar law, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Machen, pneumonia in St. Alexius' Hospital, of Baltimore, nor the Rev. Edwin H. Bismarck, North Dakota, after an ill­ Rian, all of whom were hurrying to ness of less than three days. the bedside, arrived in time to see him Dr. Machen left his home in Phila­ before his death. delphia on Sunday, December 27th, to In the loss of Dr. Machen the cause address a rally in the North Dakota of evangelical Christianity has lost a capital in the interests of The Pres­ great and mighty defender, and many byterian Church of America. By of us have lost a friend. The cause Wednesday he was confined to the which he espoused has suffered a ter­ hospital with what was first thought rific blow. But let no one assume that to be pleurisy. Wednesday afternoon it is a blow of defeat. Those who are the diagnosis of lobar pneumonia was left must carryon the tremendous announced and he was placed under task, as he would have wished them an oxygen tent. Two doctors were in to do. The road will be lonely and attendance. Bulletins from the hospi­ the burden of grief heavy, but the tal were not encouraging, and Chris­ work will go on. tians from coast to coast joined in The prayers of Christians every­ earnest prayer that God in His wis­ where are asked in behalf of those dom and power might restore him to who must continue unwarmed by the health. cheer and vigor of his spirit, that By the morning of New Year's day God, who in the wisdom of eternity the infection had spread to both lungs has foreordained all things, may sup­ and little hope of his recovery re- ply the needed strength.

THE PRESBYTERIAN GUARDIAN 137 Karl Barth on Scripture By the REV. CORNELIUS VAN TIL, Ph.D.

N order to appreci­ a battIe that once had its time but has inspiration. Even if we grant, for I ate the work of the now had it (p. 60)." argument's sake, that Luther and great German theolo­ Calvin held merely to the substantial gian, Karl Barth, we Is the Bible the Word of God? correctness instead of the plenary in­ must realize that he Can one read this quotation and spiration of the Bible, Barth's views is seeking to burn the doubt whether Barth is seeking to would still be utterly opposed to theirs. house of modern the­ burn down the orthodox doctrine of For Barth no book that is in any sense Scripture? a product of history and the human Dr. Van Til ology to the ground. For this we are very But someone will say: "I inter­ mind can be substantially correct as thankful. The house of Modernism viewed Barth myself and I know that the Word of God. Such a book may be must be burned; it gives no shelter he believes in the Bible as the Word substantially correct as a record of for eternity. of God. I asked him whether the what man has thought but the Word But Barth is also seeking to burn Word of God is in the Bible as the of God, according to Barth, can never the house of orthodox theology to the Modernist says, or whether the Word appear in anything like permanent ground. He has not merely started a of God is the Bible as the Orthodox form among men. Barth's activistic fire that has gotten out of control. He say, and Barth said the Bible is the conception of revelation makes any­ holds definitely that our house keeps Word of God. What more can you thing like an orthodox view of Scrip­ the wind from blowing on the fire he ask?" ture impossible. has started in our neighbor's house. Our reply is that we need some­ That Barth wants to ruin the ortho­ He holds that both houses must be thing more than the sound of words. dox house of Scripture completely burned or neither will be burned. We If we are to think of Barth as a man may be seen still further if we think of can see something of this in his at­ who has reasonably thought through what Protestant theology has often tack on the orthodox doctrine of his position, his contention that he spoken of as the perfections of Scrip­ Scripture. believes in the Bible as the Word of ture. Protestantism speaks of the au­ Barth's view of Scripture may be God must be viewed in the light of thority, the necessity, the perspicuity summed up in the following words his wholehearted acceptance of the and the sufficiency of Scripture. Does taken from his book, The Word of principles of modern negative criti­ Barth hold to anyone or all of these God and the Word of Man: cism and reconstruction. Whatever in the Protestant sense of the term? "The Bible is a literary monument Barth may mean by saying that the We believe not. of an ancient racial religion and of Bible is the Word of God it is plain a Hellenistic cultus religion of the that for him this means something The Authority of Scripture Near East. A human document like quite different from what it means to But is not Barth the great prophet the orthodox Christian. any other, it can lay no a priori dog­ of the Word of God today? Is it not matic claim to special attention or Does Barth Hold the View of he that is calling men back from the consideration. This judgment, being Luther and Calvin? word of man to the Word of God? announced by every tongue and be­ And is not he asking unqualified obedi­ A second obj ector may say: "You lieved in every territory, we may take are right. The Fundamentalist can­ ence to the Word of God? for granted today. We need not con­ not claim Barth as a friend. Barth We answer that he is in a sense, but tinue trying to break through an open is no servant of the letter. He be­ not in the orthodox Protestant sense.. door. And when now we turn our lieves no such foolish theories as Barth has told us with a thousand serious though somewhat dispassion­ those of verbal or plenary inspira­ voices at every period of his develop­ ate attention to the objective content tion. Barth's Fundamentalism is quite ment that Scripture authority is not of the Bible, we shall not do so in a different from American Fundamen­ and cannot be that of a once-for-all .. way to provoke religious enthusiasm talism. revelation of God. At times he even and scientific indignation to another "But, you see, Fundamentalism is identifies the Word of God with con­ battIe against 'stark orthodoxy' and a child of the scholastic era of Lu­ science. He speaks of conscience as 'dead belief in the letter.' For it is theran and Reformed theology. Luther "the perfect interpreter of life" (The too clear that intelligent and fruitful and Calvin were no literalists, though Word of God and the Word of Man, discussion of the Bible begins when they truly believed the Bible as the p. 9). His views lend themselves read­ the judgment as to its human, its his­ Word of God. And Barth's views are ily to Buchmanism and other subjec­ torical and psychological character 'fundamentally in accord with early tivist movements. Nor does Barth feel has been made and put behind us. Reformation conceptions' (The Pres­ the least bit of obligation to accept as Would that the teachers of our high byterian Student, Nov., 1936, p. 8)." history that which Scripture presents and lower schools, and with them the In our reply to this contention we as history (Credo, p. 190). Barth's progressive element among the clergy need not argue whether the "early activistic conception of revelation de­ of our established churches, would Reformation conception" of Scrip­ nies the Protestant doctrine of Scrip­ forthwith resolve to have done with ture involved the notion of plenary ture authority. 138 THE PRESBYTERIAN GUARDIAN

The Necessity of Scripture also in His Word" (op. cit. p. 170). The Sufficiency of Scripture Next to the authority of Scripture Moreover, we cannot even recognize Finally we observe that Protestant­ the Protestant Reformers maintained our own act of faith by which we ac­ ism has asserted the sufficiency of the necessity of Scripture. "They con­ cept the Scriptures as the Word of Scripture. "The Reformers merely in­ sidered Scripture to be necessary in God for what it is (op. cit. p. 234). tended to deny that there is alongside virtue of the good pleasure of God to The prophets and the apostles are so of Scripture an unwritten word of make the Word the seed of the many people pointing their fingers up­ God" (Berkhof, op, cit. p. 179). Church" (L. Berkhof, Reformed Dog­ ward, urging us to look upward, too, With respect to this point, too, it matics, Introductory Volume, p. 175). so that perhaps we may hear some­ cannot be denied that Barth has de­ This doctrine of the necessity of thing of God's Word in the distance. nied the Protestant doctrine. Speaking Scripture was opposed to the idea of For Barth it is of the essence of pride of the fact that the Jews were en­ the living voice of God as maintained to think that we possess any plain trusted with the oracles of God, Barth by Rome and the Anabaptists. words in Scripture that come to us says: "The oracles of God, of which and are recognizable by us as the Now on this point Barth's position they are the possessors and guardians, Word of God. Rome took the Bible is much closer to that of Rome, the are the comprehensible signs of the away from the common man before Anabaptists and the views of Schleier­ incomprehensible truth that, though the Reformation; Barth is trying to macher, than to that of the Protestant the world is incapable of redemption, do this same thing after the Reforma­ Reformers. Barth makes it as plain yet there is a redemption for the world. tion. as he can that Christian preaching It is irrelevant whether they possess must be preaching not of a Word that and are concerned to guard Moses or is ready to hand in Scripture. To think John the Baptist, Plato or Socialism, of the Bible as anything like a com­ or that moral perception which dwells plete expression of God's will for man in all its simplicity in the midst of the is, according to Barth, to limit the The Need of rough and tumble of human life" sovereignty of God. Barth's enthusi­ (Romans, p. 79). And if one should astic defense of the "Sovereignty" or Christian Schools think that this does not really repre­ "free grace" of God makes him a sent Barth he may turn to the Kirch­ bitter enemy of the Protestant doc­ liche Dogmatik, Barth's most recent trine of the necessity of Scripture major work, and find essentially the (Dogmatik, p. 37ff. Kirchliche Dog­ same point of view. In this more re­ matik, p. 94). If Barth is opposed to cent work Barth is, to be sure, not so "the modern use of the Bible" he is HRISTIAN parents and rash and outspoken in his rejection of far more bitterly opposed to the gen­ C their friends are cordially the canon of Scripture. At points he eric Protestant use of the Bible. urged to attend an important even seems to plead for the necessity meeting in the interest of a of a canon (p. 110). Even so, the canon is after all nothing but the pre­ The Perspicuity of Scripture proposed society for Christian Protestant theology has in addition cipitate of the Christian conscious­ schools, to be held on to the authority and the necessity ness. The Scripture must never be of Scripture also maintained its per­ Monday evening, January taken as a completed historical docu­ spicuity. The plain man can know IIth, in the Whittier Hotel, ment. The canon is but the starting what he needs to know by the guid­ 140 North Fifteenth Street, point of the revelation of God and ance of the Holy Spirit. I f he com­ Philadelphia. The speaker of the preaching is the continuation of pares Scripture with Scripture, and the evening will be the Rev. that same revelation (p. 104). The the less plain with the more plain he Reformers regarded the written word need not fear that he has missed the Professor Cornelius Van Til, as the high-water-mark of the revela­ central meaning of it all. No living Ph.D., of Westminster Theo­ tion of God; Barth regards the writ­ voice such as the Church of Rome is logical Seminary. At the con­ ten Word as the unavoidable petrifica­ indispensable as an interpreter of clusion of his address Dr. Van tion of the living word. Scripture. Til will answer questions on all Thus we see that Barth's doctrine On this point, too, Barth is opposed phases of the Christian School of Scripture cannot by any stretch of to the Protestant principle. Since for the imagination be made to appear Barth no human language can possibly system. similar to the generic Protestant view. be the medium by which the Word of This tremendously important Is this a small matter? Can we over­ God may come to us directly, the look this as a detail? Can Barth be Bible, written by human agents, pre­ and timely question is of essentially sound on other doctrines if sents a great heap of rubbish which peculiar significance to all he is essentially unsound on the doc­ must be removed before we find the members of The Presbyterian trine of Scripture? This could be only Word of God. The actual words of Church of America, and it is if the doctrine of Scripture were a Scriptures are but pointers indicating earnestly hoped that a large subordinate doctrine for Protestant­ the direction in which the "Form" ism. As a matter of fact, the doctrine (Gestalt) of the Word of God may number will attend. of Scripture is one of the most basic be found (Kirchliche Dogmatik, p. doctrines in Protestant and especially 182). "Only God understands Himself, in Reformed theology.

- THE PRESBYTERIAN GUARDIAN 139

The IIKingdom of Heavenl l and the IIKingdom of GOdl 1 By JOHN MURRAY

N THE PRESBYTE­ when we remember that the parable which the Pharisees, Sadducees, and I RIAN GUARDIAN for of the leaven is spoken of the king­ the Herodians were the representa­ August 17th we set dom of God as well as of the king­ tives. (See Mk. 13:33, note)" (p. forth by quotation dom of heaven. On Dr. Scofield's in­ 1003). This resort is by no means from Dr. Lewis terpretation leaven is the symbol impressive. It is but an attempt to Sperry Chafer and of evil and represents, as he says, slide over a fact that stands in the the Scofield Refer­ "the principle of corruption working way of a theory. ence Bible the dis­ subtly." The parable, he says, "con­ Mr. Murray tinction dispensation­ stitutes a warning that the true doc­ Further Inconsistency alists draw between the kingdom of trine ... would be mingled with cor­ Furthermore, if "the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven, and rupt and corrupting false doctrine, heaven is the earthly sphere of the presented part of the evidence to and that officially by the apostate universal kingdom of God" (p. 1003), show the arbitrary and untenable church itself" (p. 1016). that is, if the distinction between the character of that distinction. In this If, then, this pervasive leavening two kingdoms corresponds quite article we proceed to develop that process applies to the kingdom of closely to the relation between genus argument stilI further in accordance God, it surely must be through the and species, how is it possible to hold with our promise. instrumentality of personal represent­ that the condition for entrance into It will be remembered that both atives within the kingdom of God. the kingdom of heaven is so utterly Dr. Chafer and Dr. Scofield affirm Evil does not make progress as an different from the condition for en­ that the term, kingdom of God, is used abstract principle; it must be ex­ trance into the kingdom of God? when there is nothing stated that pressed in the activities of individ­ On the one hand, as "the earthly would limit its authority over all the uals, and in this case, since it is a sphere of the universal kingdom of universe. It is therefore a universal leavening process, of individuals who God," the kingdom of heaven would and comprehensive category, embrac­ are active within the kingdom of God. be included in, without exhausting, ing angels, the church, and the saints It will not do, as Dr. Scofield sug­ the kingdom of God. The distinctive of all ages. The kingdom of heaven, gests, to find the representatives constitution and constituency of the on the other hand, is the earthly solely in the Pharisees, Sadducees kingdom of heaven could not, of sphere of the kingdom of God, and and Herodians. It will not satisfy course, be defined in terms of the is therefore the establishment of the the conditions of the description Dr. kingdom of God, but the kingdom of kingdom of God in the earth. Dr. Scofield himself has given of a leav­ heaven could always be called the Scofield acknowledges that they have ening process to throw the respon­ kingdom of God. This surely follows for this reason almost all things in sibility on to representatives who are from the premise that the kingdom of common. outside the sphere of the kingdom of heaven is the earthly sphere of the But this acknowledgment that they God. If the representatives of this kingdom of God. What belongs to the have almost all things in common corrupt and corrupting false doctrine essence of the kingdom of God must naturally leads us to question the are, therefore, within the kingdom of be realized in the kingdom of heaven. validity of the series of rather hard God, we wonder what could be the Otherwise the latter could not be a and fast distinctions that has been difference between such and the tares phase or sphere of the kingdom of drawn. The need for such a question or bad fish! Surely Dr. Scofield's God. Accordingly, whoever belongs is greatly strengthened when we find argument for distinction on the basis to the kingdom of heaven, even in Dr. Scofield proceeding to say that it of omissions breaks down on his own its more restricted Messianic form, is the omissions that are important. premises.* He has, no doubt, what would also belong to the kingdom of The only omissions mentioned are may seem to some a rather conveni­ God. Of course, since the kingdom two parables, the parable of the tares ent way of getting around the diffi­ of God is more comprehensive, not and the wheat and the parable of the culty. He says: "But the parable of everyone who belongs to the king­ fish-net. In the kingdom of God, it is the leaven (Mk. 13: 33) is spoken of dom of God would belong to the contended, there are neither tares the kingdom of God also, for, alas, kingdom of heaven, but everyone nor bad fish. even the true doctrines of the king­ who is within the lesser circle would Now in the face of abundant par­ dom are leavened with the errors of also be within the larger. Not every allels where the two terms are mani­ resident of Pennsylvania is in Phila­ festly used synonymously one is com­ * It must be borne in mind that in this delphia, but every resident of Phila­ pelled to conclude that these two article we are not giving our own con­ delphia is in Pennsylvania. omissions provide us with rather structive exposition of the kingdom of On the other hand, the conditions God-kingdom of heaven concept, but ex­ scant evidence for such an important posing the fallacy and error of the dis­ for entrance into the two kingdoms distinction. Especially is this the case pensationalist construction. are sharply distinguished from one 140 THE PRESBYTERIAN GUARDIAN another. It is contended that the con­ righteousness merely in excess of the prophets: I am not come to destroy, ditions for entrance into the kingdom righteousness of the Scribes and but to fulfil" (Matt. 5: 17). In the of heaven, in its Messianic form at Pharisees. I f the kingdom of God immediate context He proceeds to least, are legal. The kingdom of can be entered only by the new birth, give instances of His meaning. He heaven, Dr. Chafer argues, is offered then the new birth is also a condi­ refers to the sixth and seventh com­ in early Matthew with positive de­ tion for entrance into any sphere mandments, and with respect to the mands for personal righteousness in within the kingdom of God, in this latter He says, "But I say unto you, life and conduct. "This is not," he case the kingdom of heaven. But this That whosoever looketh on a woman continues, "the principle of grace, it is exactly what this scheme denies. to lust after her hath committed adul­ is rather the principle of law. It ex­ Dispensationalists will have to offer tery with her already in his heart" tends into finer detail the law of us some other method of distinction (vs. 28). The apostle Paul tells us Moses ; but it never ceases to be the and formulation if they are to avoid that he was alive without the law very opposite of the principle of this manifest self-contradiction. once, that is, before Jesus appeared grace. Law conditions its blessings to him on the Damascus road. "But on human works: grace conditions The Sermon on the Mount when the commandment came," he in­ its works on divine blessings.... So The immediately foregoing objec­ forms us, "sin revived, and I died." the preaching of John the Baptist, tion exposes, we think, a serious logi­ "Nay I had not known sin, but by like the Sermon on the Mount, was cal fallacy in this construction. We the law: for I had not known lust on a law basis as indicated by its should not regard fallacy of this kind except the law had said, Thou shalt appeal which was only for a correct a minor affair. But there are other not covet" (Rom. 7: 9, 7). In other and righteous life.... Lk. III: 7-14." objections that are far more serious, words the law exposed his self-right­ (The Kingdom in History and Proph­ and that because they concern the eousness, the depravity of conscience ecy, pp. 46f.) The law of Moses, the very heart of Biblical interpretation and heart and life. It convicted and Sermon on the Mount, and the and doctrine. Is it true that the teach­ convinced him of his sinfulness. Is preaching of John the Baptist, then, ing of our Lord in the Sermon on the fact not plain that he found with were purely on a law basis,-the very the Mount, or the preaching of John respect to the tenth commandment opposite of the principle of grace,­ the Baptist, is on a law basis that the very same thing that Jesus in the and prescribe for us the conditions knows nothing of the principle of Sermon on the Mount taught with for entrance into the kingdom of grace? We entreat readers to pause, respect to the sixth and seventh com­ heaven. Entrance into the kingdom of so that they may frankly face this mandments, that the law takes cog­ heaven in this its Messianic form question. Does the Sermon on the nizance of the thoughts and intents may, it is said, be "by so Iowa stand­ Mount at any point imply that the of the heart as well as of the out­ ard as merely exceeds the righteous­ kingdom of heaven in its Messianic ward act? The correspondence is ness of the Scribes and the Pharisees" form may be entered by so low a very close, so close indeed that we (italics ours). These same legal re­ standard as that which merely ex­ may say confidently that it was just quirements, we are told, prepare the ceeds the righteousness of the Scribes the light that shines in the Sermon way for, and condition life in, the and Pharisees, by a merely external on the Mount that shone into his earthly Davidic kingdom as it is yet and legal righteousness? Are the con­ heart and upon his life. He found to be set up upon the earth (Cf. op. ditions Jesus enumerates such as may what our fathers would call the spir­ cit., pp. 48f). be fulfilled without that regeneration ituality of the law of God, and it is Entrance into the kingdom of God, of the Spirit of which He spoke to just that same spirituality that thun­ on the other hand, is said to be by Nicodemus? Can they be fulfilled in ders from the Sermon on the Mount. the new birth alone. The apostle Paul, a profession that may be true or The truth is that as we read the for example, "'lived in all good con­ false? Let us read and study some of Sermon on the Mount and catch the science' within the revelations of the them. note of intense spirituality that per­ vades it, then we cease to speak of a nation's faith," but he "had to be "3. Blessed are the poor in spirit: for transformed into a new creature on theirs is the kingdom of heaven. righteousness merely in excess of the the Damascus road" Cop. cit. p. 65). "4. Blessed are they that mourn: for righteousness of the Scribes and The question we would now ask is : they shall be comforted. Pharisees, and vehemently reject the "5. Blessed are the meek: for they very suggestion that the kingdom of how, even on dispensationalist prem­ shall inherit the earth. ises, can the distinction between these "6. Blessed are they which do hunger heaven-the theme discussed-ean be ( two sets of conditions be maintained? and thirst after righteousness: for they entered by a profession that may be We have already shown that, even shall be filled. true or false. If we read the beati­ "7. Blessed are the merciful: for they tudes on the background of what on the premises of this position, every shall obtain mercy. one who belongs to, or has gained en­ "8. Blessed are the pure in heart: for Scripture teaches as to the depravity trance into, the kingdom of heaven they shall see God. of the human heart, and on the back­ must also belong to the kingdom of "9. Blessed are the peacemakers: for ground of Scripture teaching as to they shall be called the children of God. what constitutes righteousness, meek­ God. How then, if the kingdom of "10. Blessed are they which are perse­ heaven is the earthly sphere of the cuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs ness, and purity of heart, we shall be kingdom of God, and if the one con­ is the kingdom of heaven." assured that the qualities enumerated dition for entrance into the kingdom -Matt. 5: 3-10. can be present only when the regen­ of God is the new birth, can one be In this same Sermon on the Mount eration or new birth, which served said to enter the kingdom of heaven Jesus says, "Think not that I am the subject of Jesus' discourse to Nic­ by conditions that are legal, by a come to destroy the law, or the odemus, has by God's grace been THE PRESBYTERIAN GUARDIAN 141 wrought. Indeed we need but read world in righteousness by that man tion. What i~ arbitrary and self-con­ on in the Sermon on the Mount to whom he hath ordained, whereof he tradictory cannot commend itself to find this thought expressly stated. "A hath given assurance unto all men, sober intelligence. What is so preju­ good tree cannot bring forth evil in that he hath raised him from the dicial to Scripture interpretation must fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring dead" (Acts 17: 30,31). Accordingly be vigorously rejected. It bewilders forth good fruit" (7: 18). Or later the apostles went everywhere testify­ the minds of the simple and imperils in the same gospel, "Either make the ing repentance toward God and faith the salvation of souls. tree good and his fruit good; or else toward the Lord Jesus Christ. make the tree corrupt, and his fruit Repentance is change of mind, and corrupt: for the tree is known by his it manifests itself outwardly in the THE DIAMOND JUBILEE fruit. . . . A good man out of the renunciation of the characteristic sins OF THE PRESBYTERIAN good treasure of the heart bringeth of which men have been the addicts. forth good things: and an evil man John the Baptist says nothing more CHURCH IN THE U.S. out of the evil treasure bringeth forth nor less than this. The baptism of evil things" (Matt. 12: 33, 35). John was the baptism of repentance HE Diamond Jubilee of the Pres­ It is surely time for us to regard unto the remission of sins. So was Tbyterian Church in the U.S., com­ the position that the Sermon on the the message Jesus ordained for His monly called the Southern Presbyte­ Mount is on purely legal ground, and messengers who were to be His wit­ rian Church, was celebrated during therefore the very opposite of the nesses unto the ends of the earth and December. Seventy-five years ago, on principle of grace, as the fruit of to the end of the age. And yet it is December 4th, 1861, the commission­ baneful prejudice. It is time for us to pleaded that to appeal to John the ers of all the Southern presbyteries call it pernicious heresy that entails Baptist's demand for repentance in which had renounced their allegiance the most serious doctrinal and prac­ presenting the present terms of sal­ to the General Assembly of the Pres­ tical consequences. From no part of vation is to nullify the grounds of byterian Church in the U.S.A. met in Holy Scripture more than from the every hope and promise under grace! Augusta, Georgia, and constituted the Sermon on the Mount do we gain What principial difference, we ask, first General Assembly of the Pres­ deeper conviction of the truth that is there between John's demand and byterian Church in the Confederate without holiness no man shall see the that of Peter on the day of Pente­ States of America. This split in the Lord. cost, when he said, "Repent and be ranks of the Old School Presbyte­ baptized everyone of you in the rian Church came with the outbreak The Preaching of the Baptist name of Jesus Christ for the remis­ of the Civil War. Up to that time the Dr. Chafer adduces Luke 3: 7-14 sion of sins"? John's preaching of re­ church had steadfastly refused to dis­ to show that the preaching of John pentance had direct reference to cuss economic and political questions the Baptist, like the Sermon on the Christ. "John verily baptized with the in its assemblies. On May 16th, 1861, Mount, was on a law basis. This ap­ baptism of repentance, saying unto the General Assembly met in Phila­ peal of John the Baptist must noe, he the people, that they should believe delphia in an atmosphere of tense ex­ contends, be confused with the pres­ on him which should come after him, citement. Only sixteen commissioners ent terms of salvation without nul­ that is, on Jesus" (Acts 19: 4). So from the south were present. On May lifying the grounds of every hope had Peter's preaching. They were 20th, North Carolina seceded from and promise under grace. both unto the remission of sins. the Union. After eight days of pro­ Now the burden of John's preach­ From what does the remission of longed and heated debate the General ing as recorded in this passage, it sins flow? Surely from the grace of Assembly yielded to tremendous pres­ will be remembered, is: "Bring forth God. Mere law knows nothing of the sure and passed the famous Gardiner therefore fruits worthy of repent­ remission of sins. All it knows in the Spring resolutions, which declared ance" (vs. 8). This general exhorta­ matter of sin is unmitigated condem­ the obligation of the church to pro­ tion is followed by more specific di­ nation and curse. Repentance that is mote and uphold the Federal Govern­ rections in answer to the questions of unto remission like faith toward the ment and pledged unabated loyalty to different classes. In a word, it is the Lord iJesus Christ has meaning only the Constitution, in all its provisions, demand of repentance John is voic­ in relation to the gospel of the grace requirements and principles. ing. Is there any essential difference of God. They are both the demands On June 10th the Presbytery of between this demand and the demand of the gospel, and they always be­ Memphis, in an adjourned meeting, of the gospel in all generations? Jesus speak grace. Shall we permit our­ renounced connection with the As­ said after His resurrection: "Thus it selves to be told that the preaching sembly for its so-called un-Christian is written, that Christ should suffer, of John the Baptist was on a basis and revolutionary action, and re­ and rise from the dead on the third the very opposite of the principle of quested all concurring presbyteries to day: and that repentance unto the re­ grace? Surely the asking of the ques­ join with it in the organization of mission of sins should be preached tion contains its answer. another Assembly. in his name among all nations, be­ We see, therefore, that this dis­ The Presbyterian Church in the ginning at Jerusalem" (Luke 24: 46, tinction between the kingdom of U.S. adopted the constitution of its 47). Paul says at Athens: "The times heaven and the kingdom of God is parent organization without change. of this ignorance God winked at, but not only an arbitrary and untenable There have been subsequent modifica­ now commandeth all men everywhere one but, as worked out by its ex­ tions of the doctrinal statements of to repent. Because he hath appointed ponents, is fraught with very serious the Northern Church, and larger a day in which he will judge the consequences for Biblical interpreta- changes in the Form of Government. 142 THE PRESBYTERIAN GUARDIAN

On Being Slandered A Meditation on the Seventh Psalm

By the REV. DAVID FREEMAN

OME of the most His justice and righteousness. Are we alms, but not to let him take my S sainted of men worthy of the help of God if we give estate. Princes and governors may have been the most occasion to those who oppose us? very well secure themselves with laws slandered and ma­ and arms against implacable enemies ligned. The Devil de­ "Love Your Enemies" for all this precept: they are not lights to make them a Not only did David do no wrong bound to leave the state defenseless target for his malice to the innocent, but he did good to against the projects, plots, and insur­ and hatred. When his enemies. Even to those who hated rections of those who are pleased to Mr. Freeman there is no fault to be him without a cause, and from whom think themselves persecuted if they found in a godly person, it is easy he suffered grievous wrongs, he are not permitted to reign. We may, enough for envy and ill will to in­ showed kindness and mercy. No man with a very fair comportment with vent one. could justly say that he received any this precept, love our enemies' per­ While some of God's children have harm from his hands. It was no new sons, while we hate their principles a few enemies, the Psalmist had many commandment when our Lord said, and counterplot their designs." These to harass and molest him. It is no "Love your enemies, do good to them words were never so timely as now. wonder he cried out to God for de­ which hate you." It was binding upon liverance. Who is sufficient for a every Old Testament saint. In obey­ Jud9ment and Mercy world set against those who love the ing it David proved himself to be a How can a man ask God to judge Lord, but the Lord Himself? We child of his heavenly Father. This him according to his own righteous­ wrestle not against flesh and blood, commandment involves the putting ness and integrity? Was this boasting but against principalities and powers away of all rancour towards an ad­ on David's part? Did he forget that in high places. Back of all evil is the versary; to do him all the real offices there is none righteous, no, not one? Evil One. of kindness that opportunity shall lay Who could stand, should the Lord re­ in our way; and to pray for him. gard us as we are in ourselves ? No, A Heavy Burden Love so manifested to an enemy David was not boasting, but only Of all the burdens the children of reaches up to heaven. It will not lose comparing himself with his enemies. God are called upon to bear this is its reward. The gospel enjoins a With respect to their charges he was one of the heaviest. And if they can, greater love to our enemies than men, innocent, but he well knew, as he in such a trial, still hope in God it is for the most part, today show their stood before a holy God, that he was a true indication of an abiding faith. friends. foul and needed to take refuge in His This is indeed a heavy cross to bear, When Love Is a Vice mercy alone. but no cross ever won a brighter When a good shepherd sees his crown if borne patiently for Jesus' But there is a so-called love toward sheep already in the mouth of the enemies advocated today that should sake. wolf, the more is his compassion It was for no offence of David's be abhorred. It is a shallow, sick, sen­ drawn out toward it, and the more is that he was spoken against. The bless­ timentalism that is neither Christian he set to do all in his power to deliver ing of God comes to those against nor virtuous. What is commanded in the sheep. His love for the sheep is whom all manner of evil is falsely the Word of God, and so wonderfully great when it is in such great danger. spoken. The Lord Jesus Christ said, exemplified in the true servants of Such a good shepherd is the Lord. "Blessed are ye, 'when men shall re­ God, is turned into a vice. True, we vile you, and persecute you, and shall are to love our enemy as ourselves, Knowing His character, David's faith say all manner of evil against you but if we harm ourselves in order to is cheered. God will not forsake him, falsely, for my sake." show love to our enemy, we are sin­ but will be the more inclined to help Now the true man of God examines ning against ourselves. And to sin in him when the fury of men is mani­ himself to see whether or not the order to do good is forbidden in fest. Since God preserves the right­ things said of him are so. He does Scripture. How unbecoming for men, eous, those who do His will stand pro­ not nonchalantly dismiss them. Only to say nothing of Christians, to sur­ tected. When is God's grace so mag­ l if false, as he knows in his heart be­ render tamely to their enemy all that nified as when He delivers from great fore the all-knowing and righteous his avarice desires. Is this not par­ peril? God, is he ready to ask God to de­ taking of his folly? Under the pre­ No arm of man can save. God alone fend him. If our case is not right, if tense of loving our enemies, we are was the Psalmist's Saviour. By His we have not done according to truth loving instead their enmity. One has grace we are delivered from sin and honor, we cannot hope that God said, "Though I am commanded, when through His offering up of Himself will take our side. It is an affront to my enemy thirst, to give him drink, on the cross, and by His grace all of God to ask Him to be party to a mat­ yet it is not when he thirsts for my His children are defended and pre­ ter that will not stand the light of blood. It is my duty to give him an served. THE PRESBYTERIAN GUARDIAN 143

it. Some have made the doubtful sug­ gestion, that the woman wanted to The Sunday School Lessons make sacrifice for her sins and 1 wanted to know which was the cor­ , By the REV. LESLIE W. SLOAT rect place to go. It is more probable that, having found one whom she considers a real prophet, she naturally January 17th. The Water of Life. things of the natural world as illus­ puts to Him the religious question that John 4:7-26. trating the spiritual world (d. bread, was most prominent. HIS story, which vine and branches, shepherd and 21. Woman, Believe me ... -A Tis in manyirespects sheep, etc.). Romans I : 20 would seem solemn utterance, indicatingjthat Jesus closely parallel to that to indicate that such was the inten­ considered the woman sincere. His of Nicodemus with tion of God in the plan of creation. statement points out (I) the prin­ which it also contrasts The woman's question as to Jesus' ciple, that the place of worship is a sharply, has a definite ability to provide such "spring water" matter of relative unimportance, and place in the plan of He ignores, and instead speaks of the (2) the fact, that Jerusalem is soon the Gospel. It may be inability of that which this world going to cease to be a center of wor­ Mr. Sloat said to illustrate the produces to satisfy permanently. Who­ ship. In this there is an implicit fore­ greater readiness of non-Jews to ac­ soever drinketh of this water shall telling of the destruction and cessa­ cept the claims of Jesus and believe thirst again-how well she must have tion of Judaism as a proper form of in Him, as over against the Jews, who known this, both from repeated trips worship. The Father-Jesus lifts wor­ are constantly pictured as unwilling to this well, and, morally, from vari­ ship from mere approach to deity, to accept Him, and as finding in His ous matrimonial ventures. But who­ into the plane of a family relationship miracles and teachings only occasion soever . .. -What He had to give of the most intimate kind with that for opposition to Him. was infinitely superior, first, in its Deity. Of course, a child can ap­ Jesus, who had ,a true human na­ source, Himself; secondly, in its in­ proach its father anywhere, anytime. ture, as well as a true divine nature, ternal result, becoming a well of 22. But though place is unimpor­ and who could thus become thirsty water; thirdly, in its sufficiency, con­ tant, Jesus now indicates that the and weary as anyone else, engages in stantly renewing itself; and fourth, pure Jewish religion was superior, conversation with a Samaritan woman in its ultimate result, which was eter­ and that because it was the worship at Jacob's well near Sychar, while nal life. This "Living Water" seems of a known and true God. God had waiting for the disciples who had plainly to refer to or symbolize the responded to the worship of the J ew­ gone to the city to buy food. His re­ Holy Spirit within the individual ish people. He had made Himself quest for a drink brings from the (d. 7: 38, 39). known to them. The worship of an woman a reply indicating both sur­ 15. The woman, still thinking in unknown or false God is vanity. Sal­ prise and a willingness to talk. The terms of this world, asks for this vation is of the Jews, for Jesus was surprise is because "the Jews have no water. Jesus immediately introduces Himself the Saviour of the world, dealings with the Samaritans." The the question of her moral fitness to and in the plan of God, it was before Greek word means strictly "to use a receive it. She does not need to be determined that He should be born, thing together," whence comes the morally good. But she must recog­ as pertaining to the flesh, of the J ew­ wider application. The purchase of nize and be sorry for her sin. Re­ ish race. food, and such purely impersonal pentance is a necessary accompani­ 23. And already, inasmuch as the transactions, were not of course ex­ ment of faith. Jesus therefore makes Saviour is in the world, true worship cluded. clear to her that He knows all about can exist apart from Jerusalem. In 10. If thou knewest-Sensing her her past and present moral character. principle the New Testament period readiness to talk, Jesus leads her on It is this knowledge, which the woman has begun, though in fact His work with intriguing questions. The Gift of recognizes as more than natural, was not yet finished. True worship is God-Some say Jesus Himself (3: which most impresses her (verse 29). internal, spiritual, and according to 16), others the more general bless­ 19. I perceive that thou art a the reality of things, rather than ex­ ings of Salvation and the indwelling prophet-His knowledge of her per­ ternal and through types and symbols Spirit. Subsequent conversation seems suades her of this, and the conviction of those things. In spirit and in truth, ] to indicate the latter. And who it is­ provides the opportunity to turn the therefore, will the worshippers ap­ A broad hint that the speaker was conversation into less personal chan­ proach the Father (d. Rom. 1: 9). more than He appeared to her at the nels. Notice also that Jesus does not And this is what the Father really moment to be. Her increasing respect condemn the bringing up of a con­ desires-He "seeketh such." The pres­ for Him is indicated by the change in troversial issue, but actually seizes ent tense indicates the continual de­ the title she uses, from the first mere upon and develops it, and does not sire of the Father, even under the "thou," to "Messiah," by which she again return to the matter of her sin. Old Testament regime. That regime describes Him to others. Living The Holy Spirit will do the work of was not sinful or false, but immature, Water-the Greek is ambiguous, and convicting her in that matter. and intended to prepare the people for may mean "spring water," whence 20. This mountain. ... Jerusalem­ the coming regime of reality (d. comes the reply of the woman, indi­ The Samaritans considered Mt. Ger­ Heb. 10: Iff). Thus it is apparent that cating she understood it as such. No­ azim as the proper place of worship, the reestablishment of any such wor­ tice how frequently Jesus employs and expected the Messiah to come to ship as that by type and symbol at 144 THE PRESBYTERIAN GUARDIAN some future time is excluded. Our verse 7. Thirty- and eight years-the "He came unto His own, and His present sacraments are memorials, period of his sickness, not of his be­ own received Him not" (1: 11). and representative, not of something ing in this place. We are not told Though He had done so many mir­ to come, but of something that has what his particular ailment was, other acles in their presence, yet they be­ happened. In the future even they than that it resulted in partial paral­ lieved not in Him (12: 37). The will be done away, and the fellow­ ysis. Jesus seeing him lying, and Christological passagef5 :1'17-47) con­ ship between man and God will be knowing . .. -The knowledge was tains Jesus' claims for His own per­ even more definitely realized than at not necessarily supernatural, for the son, based on the undeniable proof present. man was probably well known. Why of the miracles, coupled with His 24. And the reason for this is that did Jesus heal only one person, and charge against the people, that they God is Spirit. Not having any ma­ that this one? There is no indication do not "will to come" to Him that terial attributes, He must not in true of any appeal from the man, and the they may have life. worship be approached through forms sequel reveals him as almost indiffer­ The Feeding of the Five Thousand which would suggest that He had. ent to the cure. Only the sovereign (6: 8-15). Jesus is back north again, The form of worship must befit the pleasure of the Son of God, whereby and this time across the Sea of Gali­ object of worship. In Truth-That is, He chooses whom He will, can an­ lee. The multitude comes to Him, with due recognition of the reality swer this question. Enough for us having seen the miracles He wrought which characterizes God and our re­ that He did select this individual for the sick,-but not, as we shall lation to Him. Heresy and acceptable alone. Do you wish to become whole? see, interested in the Person who worship do not go together. The question designed to arouse in­ wrought miracles, but only in the The woman admits that she is be­ terest and hope, and yet uncovering miracles themselves as interesting yond her depth, and suggests that the only an attitude of despair. I have no events. A question to Philip about Messiah will have to solve those man-Without friends and helpless the source of food for the crowd problems. Whereupon, to this sinful, himself, the man is in a sad case. brings a reply that indicates the size alien woman Jesus makes the great Jesus indicates no approval or con­ of the group. Five barley loaves-the revelation, "I Am He, who am speak­ cern over the superstition about the kind of 'bread used by the poor. Some ing to thee." Jesus was willing to re­ pool. Arise . .. -A command involv­ have suggested that this was a baker's veal to her His Messiahship, for the ing the man's own restoration, his boy with the remnant of his wares. Samaritans would not seize upon the departure from this place, and his Make the men sit down-Jesus was supposed political aspects of it, as showing to the people that he was going to work a supreme miracle. would the Jews (6: 15). well. And immediately . .. -The cure And He was going to do it in the And the outcome of the meeting? came with the command. No sooner open, with every eye fastened upon See verse 42. Some believed the testi­ were the words spoken, than the man Him, and nothing else to disturb the mony of the woman. Others believed had arisen, picked up the cot, and people. Since Jesus was standing they Jesus Himself. But the important was walking. could see better sitting down. Only thing was what they believed: not And it was the Sabbath Day-John the men are mentioned, according to merely that He was the expected has chosen his miracles because of local custom. Jesus was primarily in­ Jewish Messiah, but that He was what they mean for the person of terested in showing this thing to the Saviour of the world bringing bless­ Jesus Himself, rather than because men. He took then the bread-Did ings upon all nations (Gen. 12: 3). of what they mean for the recipients He look slightly foolish to the multi­ Truly, in spiritual things, seed-sowing of the benefits. The very first miracle, tude, as He blessed five barley loaves, is often quickly followed by harvest. in Cana, had resulted in faith on the with the intent of feeding five thou­ part of the disciples (2: II). And all sand? Having given thanks-the act January 24th, Two Miracles of the miracles were of such a nature of a father at the dinner table. No Mercy. John 5:2-9; 6:8-15. that they most plainly proved that indication of a special prayer for the Jesus possessed the attributes of occasion. He gave to the ones sitting HE Healing of the Impotent Man, deity. And that was what they actu­ down-a regular dinner, served, of T5 : 2-9. IJesus was back in Jerusalem ally did prove to John-that ,Jesus course, with the help of the disciples. again, for a feast which is not par­ was the Son of God. But what was Weare not told at what point the ticularly named. At the sheep gate a the result they produced on the part miraculous multiplication took place. pool--Some prefer to translate it, of the Jewish people? Unbelief, It was indescribable. But feeding five "sheep-pool," a place where the sheep hatred, and a determination to do thousand and more took time. There were washed. But a sheep gate is away with Jesus. Thus in this case, was ample opportunity for the people mentioned in Nehemiah 3: 32. Be.. instead of showing any interest in to discover what was happening, and thesdo-i-i.e., "House of Mercy." Other the fact that a man was healed, the then to watch even more clos-ely. And manuscripts have Bethzatha, "House Jewish leaders find it only an oppor­ before their eyes they saw Jesus actu­ of Olives." Porches-Partially shel­ tunity to charge Him with Sabbath ally employing the creative power of tered places arranged around the sides desecration. When He intimates that God and bringing into 'being some­ of the pool. Awaiting the moving of the miracle proves Him truly the thing out of nothing. Gather up the the water-This clause and the fol­ Son of God, they charge Him further fragments-As Matthew says, they lowing verse are not found in the best with blasphemy. And that is the story became stuffed and could not eat any manuscripts, and are generally ad­ throughout the Gospel. That is the more, and the disciples gathered up mitted to be a later addition, explain­ thing that overwhelms John as he twelve baskets full of fragments, re­ ing the superstition suggested in looks back to the events of that time. maining from five loaves and two THE PRESBYTERIAN GUARDIAN 145 fishes. The people not only ate, but tion, regardless of how it may be ac­ that Jesus is not speaking on mere now had the chance of examining complished. The narrative thus fits human authority. Here then Jesus, in what was left over. There was no the program of the Gospel to perfec­ spite of what has been said in the escaping the fact that a miracle had tion. The close of chapter six told the previous chapter, lays the responsibil­ been performed. And a miracle truly story of the climax and downward ity for His rejection directly at the proving that Jesus possessed the at­ start in the popularity of Jesus. From door of the Jews. If they really willed tributes of deity. henceforth, with the brief exception to do God's will, they would not be This is truly the prophet who is to of the triumphal entry, the story is standing in doubt of Him. The reason come into the world-Cf. Deut. 18: 15. one of growing strength in the oppo­ they are in doubt and are opposing This miracle created this conviction sition, right up to Calvary. Him is that they do not really desire in the minds of the people, but it did 1-9. First, then, we have a brief to do the will of God. They are re­ not result in their believing in Him. story about Jesus and His brothers. sponsible for what they are going to For they wanted to do their will with To deny that Jesus had real brothers do. The second argument He uses is Him-make Him a king-rather than after the flesh, children of Mary, re­ that, if He were merely speaking on let Him do His own will in them, quires the grossest misrepresentation His own authority and not really from which would have led them to trust and misinterpretation of Scripture. God, He would not be saying things in Him. If He was truly the Messiah, These brothers urge upon Jesus that that are bringing reproach upon Him. the Son of God, then it was up to He go up openly to the Feast of Tab­ He would rather be seeking His own Him to control them, rather than up ernacles. One is not sure of their pur­ honor and glory. As it is, He is saying to them to control Him. Jesus charges pose. Either they are openly mocking things which areultimatelygoingtolead them with unbelief and disobedience Him, as some have suggested, or else Him to His death. This implication, and tells them that to do God's work they are seriously in doubt. If the though not fully stated, would show is to believe on Him (26-29), and im­ latter, what they wish is to have His that Jesus must indeed be speaking mediately they turn back, revealing claims once for all decided by a pub­ for someone else, and must be deter­ their true unbelief, and say, Show us lic proclamation of Himself at the mined to be loyal to that other one, a sign. This leads to the discourse on feast. There the question could be regardless of cost to Himself. Jesus the bread of life, with the four-times settled, so they think, once for all. then contrasts His own attitude with repeated declaration, I will raise him His brothers, at least, did not yet that of the Jewish people (especially up at the last day. Yet they will not believe in Him as Messiah. And they the authorities). They claim to be believe, and in verse 65 we have the did not come to that conviction till honoring Moses and the Law he had final answer, "No one can come unto the resurrection. given. But instead, they are really me except it be given him of the 10-13. Next we have a picture of the seeking their own honor, and are be­ Father." Calvin's doctrine of the sov­ Feast itself. And here we see the un­ ing disloyal to Moses. For Moses fore­ ereignty of God, and predestination, dercurrent of discussion about that told Jesus, and Moses also commanded is based upon the teaching of our Man, Jesus. Some people are saying that people should not kill. And yet Lord Himself. It is the only possible that He is a good man. Others claim the people are rejecting the one fore­ explanation of the unbelief of the that He is deceiving the people. But told by Moses, and are going about to Jews. And yet the Jews were them­ the discussions are being carried on kill Him. And then, from another selves, actually, morally responsible on street corners and in little groups, angle, Jesus proceeds to point out that for their rejection of the Christ. Di­ -none of the people dare to speak they do exactly the same thing He vine predestination and moral respon­ out in the open for fear that the au­ Himself has done. He, according to sibility for our own acts are taught thorities, who have not yet officially them, has broken the Sabbath in heal­ side by side in the Scriptures. We can decided, will declare them wrong. ing the impotent man. Well, they deny neither. 14-36. Then Jesus Himself appears, break the Sabbath when they circum­ having come into the city quietly. He cise a child (circumcision was per­ January 31st. Jesus at the Feast starts teaching in the temple about formed on the eighth day, even when the middle of the week: There He that was the Sabbath). But they claim of T.a&ernacles. John 7. joins a number of other teachers and to be justified 'because the law of cir­ NSTEAD of following the Interna­ makes His purpose the exposition of cumcision was older than Moses, and I tional Lessons for this week, we the Old Testament, rather than any takes precedence over the law of the are continuing our comments on the particular Messianic claims concern­ Sabbath given by Him. Should He Gospel of John, treating of Chapter 7, ing Himself. But He attracts attention not therefore be justified in what He which has been omitted from the les­ by the very ability with which He had done, on exactly the same basis, son studies. expounds the Scripture. The people (I) because of the character of His In this chapter two points of perti­ marvel, knowing that He had never act, which was to make an entire man nent interest are woven together into attended the Rabbinical schools. And well, and (2) because the authority one pattern. First there is a review to that He makes definite reply. He and power by which He performed of the various opinions of Jesus, held had been taught His doctrine-s-but not the act had clearly come directly from by different groups. And secondly, by those schools. He had been taught God, and should therefore take pre­ we see the opposition to Jesus on the it by God (if we may so speak). And cedence over the law that came only part of the authorities take definite that fact may be proven by two things. from Moses? (This argument is, of form, as they first send men to seize First, if any man really desires and course, to meet their interpretation, Him, and then, that failing, show that wills to do God's will, he will know and Jesus does not in any sense really their determination is His destruc- of Jesus' doctrine that it is true, and imply that He has broken the law of 146 THE PRESBYTERIAN GUARDIAN

Moses truly understood.) The people as it seems to be of the final outcome (II Thess. 2: 13). See also Psalm should, if they were really true to of Jesus' ministry, leads Him to speak 119: 89-91; Ephesians 1: 4; and I Moses, be judging according to the briefly of that which He knows is Peter 1: 2. deeper righteousness of the act, in­ going to happen, only a little hence. God has planned even the actions stead of through surface appearances 37-52. On the last great day of the of men, both good and evil. alone. Feast, the day of the Solemn Assem­ Good: "For we are his workman­ 25-27. The J erusalemites, who knew bly which represented the entrance of ship, created in Christ Jesus unto good the plans of the authorities to kill this Israel into the promised land follow­ works, which God hath before or­ man, now speak among themselves, ing the wilderness wanderings, Jesus dained that we should walk in them" wondering how He dares thus to ap­ presents Himself in the Temple and (Ephesians 2: 10). pear in the open. And wondering, too, offers to give of the water of life to Evil: "Him, being delivered by the if it is possible that the rulers have all who truly seek it. John explains determinate counsel and foreknowl­ decided that this is the Christ, and this as of the Holy Spirit (cf. 4: 14). edge of God, ye have taken, and by are yet determined to carry out their In consequence of this final appear­ wicked hands have crucified and slain" plans. But they immediately answer ance many of the people were con­ (Acts 2: 23) . their own suggestion. This cannot be vinced that He was either the See also Luke 22: 22; Acts 4: 27-28; the Christ, for they know something Prophet (Deut. 18: IS) or in truth Exodus 7: 3 and Romans 9: 17; Gene­ of the origin of this man. the Messiah. (The Jews generally sis 50: 20; I Peter 2: 8; and Revela­ understood these as two different per­ tion 17: 17. 28-36. Jesus, knowing their conver­ sons who were to come.) And the sation, makes direct reply, asserting men sent to seize Jesus return with­ The Plan of God or Chaos that though they do know His human out Him, testifying to His greatness. A god who did not have an eternal origin, they would also know His di­ Whereupon the Sanhedrin, in anger purpose concerning whatsoever comes vine origin if they were truly of God. and disgust, shows its true character, to pass would not be the infinite, eter­ But the latter is hidden from them, and reveals that, regardless of what nal, and unchangeable God revealed because they do not know God (cf. may happen, it is determined to get in the Bible. Nor would he be the God 4: 22-the true and the false Jewish rid of this man. Nicodemus objects who must exist if life is to have any religionists). But He does know God, that they are going contrary to the meaning for us (See Lesson 2). and therefore He knows about His law of Moses in judging a man with­ A god who would create a world own origin. This speech in the temple out trial, and they reply in a fashion without planning all things to occur is so impressive that many believe. that indicates they are wholly gov­ in it would be limited in wisdom and But the Sanhedrin hears about this erned by prejudice, and not at all by knowledge-and could be no suitable and, hastily summoning a council, facts. Hypocrisy among those who authority for us. sends men to seize Jesus and bring claim to be religious leaders is not The true God, of course, did not Him to them. This action, prophetic a new thing. blindly create, having left some events uncertain, undetermined,and not fore­ known: but with infinite wisdom He determined all things for His own Studies in the Shorter Catechism glory, the highest possible end; and, because He settled or determined all By the REV. JOHN H. SKILTON things He knew all that would occur. If we deny that God has decreed all LESSON 14 "Declaring the end from the be­ things we must deny not only His wis­ ginning, and from ancient times the The Decrees of God dom and His knowledge, but will find things that are not yet done, saying, ourselves logically driven to make QUESTION 7. What are the decrees of My counsel shall stand, and I will do God.'! other devastating denials. Bennett all my pleasure ... yea, I have spoken Tyler has aptly said, "The denial of ANSWER. The decrees of God are His it, I will also bring it to pass; I have decrees involves denial of the essen­ eternal purpose according to the purposed it, I will also do it" (Isaiah tial attributes of God, such as omnipo­ counsel of His will, whereby, for 46: 10-11). tence, omniscience, benevolence ; ex­ His own glory, He hath foreor­ Consider also Psalm 33 : 10-11 ; hibits him as a disappointed and un­ dained whatsoever comes to pass. Isaiah 14: 26-27; Daniel 4: 34-35; and happy being; implies denial of his Acts 2:23; 15:18; 17:26. God Has Planned All ThinCJs universal providence; leads to a denial The eternal purpose of God extends of the greater part of our own duty OD planned, decreed, or foreor­ even to such matters as the length of of submission; weakens the obliga­ G dained from eternity whatsoever man's life and the hounds of his habi­ tions of gratitude." comes to pass. Without exception tations (Job 14: 5; Acts 14: 26). If we must choose between God or everything in the universe is part of It has regard to means as well as chaos, we must choose between a God God's eternal plan or purpose, as re­ ends. "But we are bound to give who has planned all things or chaos. vealed in the Bible. thanks always to God for you, breth­ "... Being predestinated according ren beloved of the Lord, because God Cautions to the purpose of him who worketh all hath from the beginning chosen you Although God's eternal purpose de­ things after the counsel of his own to salvation through sanctification of termines all things, man is not to be will" (Ephesians 1: 11). the Spirit and belief of the truth regarded merely as a machine, which THE PRESBYTERIAN GUARDIAN 147

need have no initiative, nor is God to good to them that love God, to them us in Christ Jesus before the world be considered responsible for man's who are the called according to His began (II Timothy 1: 9). See also sin. Man is revealed by the Scriptures purpose?" Ephesians 3: 9, 11; I Peter 1: 20-21 ; to be a morally responsible being with 12. Is there any reason for disre­ Romans 11: 33-36; Acts 2: 23; 15: 18; a will of his own. That man's nature garding God's holy law because all II Thessalonians 2: 13; Matthew 25: should be evil, and that man should things have been foreordained? 34; and I :Corinthians 2: 7. accordingly will to do evil, place guilt Unchangeable: "The counsel of the only on man. God has decreed means LESSON 15 Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts as well as ends and has instructed man of his heart to all generations (Psalm as to how he may be a means in the The Decrees of God 33: 11). accomplishment of exalted purposes: QUESTION 7. What are the decrees of "The Lord of hosts hath sworn, man should in no wise feel himself God? saying, surely as I have thought so justified in refusing to labor together ANSWER. The decrees of God are His shall it stand (Isaiah 14: 24). with God. Problems may arise in our eternal purpose according to the See Isaiah 46: 9-10 and John 23: attempts to understand the profound counsel of His will, whereby, for 13-14. truths of God's all-embracing purpose His own glory, He hath foreor­ and man's responsibility: but we must dained whatsoever comes to pass. Further Considerations not rej ect revealed truth because of QUESTION 8. How doth God execute 1. God has decreed whatsoever any difficulties it presents to us. His decrees? comes to pass according to the counsel ANSWER. God ex ecutetk His decrees of His will. With His infinite wisdom SUBJECTS FOR STUDY AND in the works of creation and provi­ He has chosen the end from the be­ DISCUSSION dence. ginning. From all possibilities He has I. In what ways does the doctrine determined actualities that will give of God's. eternal purpose or foreor­ One Purpose Him most glory. We can rejoice that dination help us? Does it tend to de­ OD has not many plans for what­ the universe is not enslaved by a ma­ velop humility? patience? confidence G soever comes to pass, but only lignant fate or by blind "chance," but that God will keep His promises? one plan, only one purpose. Of course, that all things are foreordained by courage? assurance of a final triumph since God's one purpose concerns all our great, infinitely wise God, whose of righteousness? Does it help us to things that come to pass, we may prop­ will is holy. see the hand of God in our experi­ erly speak of His purpose regarding God's decrees are not dependent on ence? Does it give us an indication of anyone thing, and, for convenience' anything outside of Himself. our high privilege of serving God? sake, of His decrees or purposes with "Who hath known the mind of the Give reasons. regard to many things. But we must Lord? or who hath been His counsel­ 2. What is fatalism? How does it never forget that, as Dr. Charles lor? ... of him, and through him, and differ from the doctrine of God's eter­ Hodge has said, "the vast scheme of to him are all things" (Romans 11: nal purpose? creation, providence, and redemption 34-36). See also Isaiah 40:13-14; 3. Who is responsible for sin? lies in the divine mind as one simple Daniel 4: 35; Psalm 135: 6; Job 36: 4. Is there such a thing as chance? purpose, although including an infi­ 22-23; and I Cor. 2: 16. 5. In what ways would the fact of nite multiplicity of causes and effects." 2. Whatever God has planned will prophecy and its fulfillment support The Shorter Catechism recognizes the come to pass. the doctrine that God has planned all oneness of God's plan when it says, "The Lord of hosts hath purposed, things? "The decrees of God are His eternal who shall disannul it?" (Isaiah 14: 6. If anyone event of history is purpose." 27.) foreordained must 'others be as well? (The answer to the eighth question 7. Show from the Scriptures that An Eternal and an of the Catechism tells us that "God the crucifixion of our Lord was fore­ Unchanging Purpose executeth His decrees in the works ordained and that at the same time Being infinite in all His perfections of creation and providence," works the men who brought it about were God cannot have different plans at to which we shall give special atten­ morally responsible. different times. His purpose was tion in succeeding studies.) 8. What effect should the doctrine formed before the world was created 3. It is for the highest end that God of God's eternal purpose have upon and has existed from eternity in Him has foreordained all things: His own sinners? Should it make them realize with whom there is no beginning, no glory. that God's warnings of punishment ending, and no "succession of mo­ "Thou art worthy, 0 Lord, to re­ ought to be heeded? ments." No lack of wisdom, knowl­ ceive glory, and honour, and power: 9. What is the relationship between .edge, or power, and no alteration in for thou hast created all things, and the eternal purpose of God and salva­ His Being could force God to change for thy pleasure they are and were tion? See Question 20 in the Shorter His plan. . created" (Revelation 4: 11). Consider Catechism. Eternal: "According as he hath also Numbers 14: 21; Isaiah 48: 11 ; IO. If we deny the doctrine of God's chosen us in him before the founda­ Romans 11: 36; and Ephesians 1: 5, eternal purpose what else are we logi­ tion of the world" (Ephesians 1: 4). 6, 8-10, 12. cally compelled to deny? Reasons? "Who hath saved us, and called us II. If we did not believe that God with a holy calling, not according to SUBJECTS FOR DISCUSSION has an eternal purpose could we say our works, but according to his own I. Distinguish between decrees and that "all things work together for purpose and grace, which was given the execution of decrees. Does what- 148 THE PRESBYTERIAN GUARDIAN ever God decrees come to pass? How? sons? willing to suffer the hardships and 2. Are the actions both of God and 6. Is it more fitting for us to say the calumny for our faith which they man included in God's eternal pur­ that God has an eternal PURPOSE have endured during the past few pose? rather than PURPOSES? Reason? years. And let us not forget that our 3. Do the decrees of God relate to 7. Give Scripture references to contacts with the men of Westminster things "within" God as well as out­ show that God is eternal and His pur­ Seminary and others who have stepped side Him? Does G'od decree to be all pose is eternal; that He is unchange­ out or been cast out of the Presbyte­ powerful? able and His purpose is unchangeable. rian Church, North, [the Presby­ 4. Could God change His eternal 8. Do we find comfort in the fact terian Church in the U.S.A.] have purpose? Why can He not have dif­ that God's eternal purpose is accord­ served us as a constant warning ferent plans at different times? ing to the counsel of His will? against the ever-present perils of 5. Could God have chosen any 9. Review last week's lesson and Modernism." higher end than His own glory? Rea- study Catechism Questions 8 to IO. SYNOD COMMISSION DEFERS TRIAL OF JAMES E. BENNET

CHRISTIAN REFORMED EDITOR REVIEWS THE HE trial of Ruling Elder James PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF AMERICA TE. Bennet by a special judicial commission of the Synod of New N AN editorial in the December utilized, but it will be necessary also York temporarily collapsed on De­ I 25th issue of The Banner, organ of to take steps toward the development cember 15th in a touching demonstra­ the Christian Reformed Church, the of a comprehensive program of tion of cordiality and pre-Christmas Rev. H. J. Kuiper gives a hearty Christian education... .''' good-will. Mr. Bennet, New York Christian welcome to The Presbyterian The editor of The Banner then lawyer who still retains his member­ Church of America, and comments proceeds to enumerate four recom­ ship in the Presbyterian Church in with particularly warm approval on mendations of the Committee on the U.S.A., had been ordered brought actions of the Second General Assem­ Christian Education, which parallel to trial on charges growing out of bly pertaining to the field of Chris­ current aims and efforts in the Chris­ his Independent Board membership. tian Education. A portion of the edi­ tian Reformed Church and which he It is important to note that this torial is here quoted: wholeheartedly endorses. first session was held, not in any "One of the outstanding events of "But more important than some of church building, but in a room at 1936 in the religious and ecclesiasti­ the recommendations already men­ 156 Fifth Avenue, on one of the three cal world, as far as our own country tioned," he continues, "is the last one, floors occupied by the Board of For­ is concerned, was the establishment pertaining to Christian schools. It eign Missions of the Presbyterian of a new denomination holding to the reads as follows: 'That the General Church in the U.S.A. Reformed faith, namely, The Pres­ Assembly recommend to pastors and Mr. Bennet, whose brother, Will­ byterian Church of America. Weare members of the church the formation iam S. Bennet, represented him as prayerfully interested in the welfare of Christian School Societies which counsel at this first session, pointed of this Church. Its progress will mean shall have as their purpose the estab­ out that the proper tribunal for his much for the preservation and propa­ lishment of Christian daily schools.' trial would be the session of the Fort gation not only of the evangelical This is a remarkable pronouncement Washington Church of which he is faith but more specifically of our Cal­ indeed. We know of no other Church a member. He stated also that the vinistic doctrines and traditions.... in our country, besides The Christian trial was outlawed by the statute of And by things Reformed we mean not Reformed Church and the Protestant limitations, since more than two years only Reformed doctrine and govern­ Reformed Church, which is officially have now elapsed since the "mandate" ment but also such educational agen­ committed to the cause of parental of 1934. cies which we believe are needed to Christian schools. A silver lining shin­ With a charming display of con­ perpetuate the fundamentals of our ing through the dark clouds of pres­ cern for the provisions of the Book faith. Therefore we were happy to ent day American Christianity! ' of Discipline the commission made read the report of the Committee on "Anyone who reads the report no attempt to proceed beyond the Christian Education at the Second from which we have quoted will un­ presentation of charges, but unoffi­ General Assembly held last November derstand why we have given The Pres­ cially received Mr. Bennet's criticisms in Philadelphia. This noteworthy re­ byterian Church of America special in order to consider them before the port states, for example, that 'if The attention in The Banner ever since its next session. In a general spirit of Presbyterian Church of America is to organization last spring. ... friendliness and good-will the com­ be a truly Reformed Church, activi­ "Let us add to this that if we have mission adjourned until January 19th. ties in the sphere of education, how­ been an inspiration to the leaders of It is expected that since Mr. Ben­ ever humble, cannot be initiated too the new Presbyterian Church, they net did not withdraw from the church, soon. Certain truly Evangelical and have no less been an inspiration to us. merely protested, he will receive lit­ Reformed publications and projects We have often asked ourselves the tle more than an official wrist-slap­ which are already available can be question whether we would have been ping. THE PRESBYTERIAN GUARDIAN' 149

the name of Presbyterians as such form ernment of the plaintiff church. The latter COURT RULES AGAINST of worship conducted under the churches is as follows: being a part of the plaintiff organization "'the power of deciding in all con­ PRELIMINARY OBJECTIONS TO as well as misunderstanding among those troversies respecting doctrine and dis­ who may be desirous of making contribu­ cipline; of reproving, warning' or SUIT OF OLD ORGANIZATION tions to the original organization or at­ bearing testimony against error in tending its colleges of learning, missions doctrine, or immorality in practice, in or other auxiliary organizations. This is any church, presbytery, or synod; of Defendants Ordered to File not a monopoly. It is merely a natural and erecting new synods when it may be protective right that belongs to organiza­ judged necessary; of superintending Answer on Merits of ease tions, religious or otherwise, to safeguard the concerns of the whole Church; of them against organizations attempting to corresponding with foreign churches, N December 3rd the Court of adopt their time honored and descriptive on such terms as may be agreed upon Common Pleas, No.5, in Phila­ name or one so similar to it, as to lead by the Assembly and the correspond­ O to confusion and tend to deceit. ing body; of suppressing schismatical delphia filed an opinion dismissing The bill is not defective because of any contentions and disputations; and in the preliminary objections filed by multifariousness as to parties plaintiff and general, of recommending and at­ counsel for the Home Missions Com­ causes of action. The parties plaintiff are tempting reformation of manner, a.nd mittee of The Presbyterian Church of the individual officers, and a specially con­ the promotion of charity, truth, and stituted committee of the General Assem­ holiness, through all the churches America against the Bill of Complaint bly of The Presbyterian Church in the under their care.'" of certain members of the Presbyte­ United States of America, an unincor­ This action is brought in the interest of rian Church in the U.S.A. porated body and the Trustees of the The Presbyterian Church in the United General Assembly of The Presbyterian States of America and to assert a right This decision is not determinative Church in the United States of America, which belongs in it. The other parties of the case; its effect is to require the a corporation. All of these parties have a plaintiff are but the instrument in bring­ defendants to file an answer to the common interest or a single object in the ing the matter to the attention of this Bill of Complaint. proceedings even though that interest may Court. The sole question is to have the be variable to some degree. matter adjudicated on the question of the The first portion of the opinion sum­ In Rafferty v. Central Traction Com­ right of the plaintiff church to enjoin an­ marizes the Bill of Complaint which pany, 147 Pa. 579, Mr. Justice Greer said other organization or group from using was printed in full in THE PRESBYTE­ (on p. 584) : its name or one so similar to it as to lead RIAN GUARDIAN for September 12, "We dismiss the first and second to confusion, misunderstanding and con­ assignments of error, because we think sequent damage. 1936. The second portion discusses that the cause of complaint is one ***DECREE*** the preliminary objections of the de­ that is common to all the plaintiffs, the AND NOW, to wit, this 3rd day of fendants to the bill. These objections right under which all claim is pre­ December, 1936, the Preliminary Objec­ were published in the issue of Sep­ cisely the same as to each, the com­ tions to the Bill in Equity are dismissed plaint of all is against the same with leave granted to the defendants to tember 16, 1936. The text of the defendant for the doing of acts which file an answer on the merits within fifteen opinion itself is here quoted in full. affected all alike and in the same days. manner, the defence set up is com­ By THE COURT: The first objection of the defendants to mon to all the plaintiffs, and the FRANK SMITH, the bill in equity is without merit. There testimony, proofs and decree are alike P.J. is no effort made by law to secure a pref­ as to all the plaintiffs. It is not neces­ erence for any religious establishment sary to cite authorities to show that contrary to Section 3 of Article I of the when all these matters concur a bill Constitution of this Commonwealth. The filed by several such plaintiffs against right to the name, The Presbyterian a common defendant is not multifari­ CHICAGO AREA PRESBYTERY Church in the United States of America, ous." is recognized by usage and tradition since See also Riley v. Pennsylvania Company, LOOKS FORVVARD TO RALLY that unincorporated society was organized 32 Pa. Superior, 579. under that name and title in America in There is also only one prayer to enjoin 1788. The mere use of a specific name for the defendants from using or employing HE Presbytery of the Chicago a religious body in no way hampers a the name Presbyterian Church of Amer­ TArea, formerly known as the Pres­ man's freedom of worship or compels his ica or any similar name or imitative of bytery of Chicago, is enthusiastically attendance or adherence to a church con­ that of the plaintiff church or holding planning a rally to be held on Janu­ ducting religious services under that cap­ meetings or enterprises under such name. tion. There is here no attempt being made The plaintiffs share the same name, have ary 21st at 7.45 P. M., in Chicago's which would compel a preference by law a common interest in it and in varying Belden Avenue Baptist Church, Bel­ for this particular religious body or mode degrees would be affected by its imitation. den A venue and Halsted Street. The of worship over all other religious organ­ If injuries are suffered by these plaintiffs izations or modes of worship. The primary to any degree, equity will assume juris­ Rev. J. Oliver Buswell, Jr., D.D., purpose of the bill is to prevent the use diction. It is not necessary therefore that President of Wheaton College and of a name by another independent organ­ all forms and degrees of injury must be Moderator of the Second General As­ ization whether it be created by schism or contained in the bill. Neither is it neces­ sembly, will preside. by a group never before affiliated with sary for the bill to set forth all, each and The principal speaker at this im­ it, so nearly identical to its own ancient every character or description of the prop­ name associated to it in the public mind erty that may be affected or the property portant gathering will be the Rev. J. as to lead to confusion, misunderstanding held in trust by the corporation or the Gresham Maohen, D.D., Litt.D., and and material damages. specific uses and purposes thereof. Many it is expected that many in the Chi­ It seems futile to deny that the original of the averments of the bill may be sur­ cago area will give hearty support to name: The Presbyterian Church in the plusage and unnecessary. That which is United States of America is not substan­ material and relevant may be adduced by the rally. tially copied by the defendants in their proof. Ministerial members of the Pres­ adoption of the name: Presbyterian Paragraph Four of the bill describes the bytery of the Chicago Area are: Dr. Church of America. bodies and groups constituting the plain­ Oliver Buswell, Jr., Moderator; I t also appeals to common sense that tiff church including the governing body J. the use of this latter name must lead to as well as the powers and duties of the R. Jackson Vaughn, Stated Clerk; confusion among those who worship under General Assembly and the Form of Gov- William Agnew; Frank H. Heyden- 150 THE PRESBYTERIAN GUARDIAN

burk; Benjamin Mickle Brown; Chas. the U.S.A. would not permit them to G. Sterling; O. W. Winkfield; Fred DEDICATION SERVICE OF teach and practice consistently the Geisenheiner; William Henry Myers. Calvinism of the Standards.The Pres­ WISCONSIN CHURCH TO BE byteryof Milwaukee made it perfectly CONDUCTED BY DR. MACHEN plain that it would not allow the Cedar STATISTICS SHOW RUSSIA Grove Church to remain an Old School Presbyterian Church as it had NOW 50 PER CENT ATHEIST Calvary Church of Cedar Grove ever been. These Presbyterians were, Reports Unusual History therefore, constrained to make a ROM Russia, one-time land of and Progress choice. They would have to choose Fthe samovar but now the home of either to continue their fellowship religious desolation and oppression, with the Presbyterian Church in the comes a series of reports recently re­ N JANUARY 20th the new U.S.A. and cease to be Presbyterian leased by the World Dominion Move­ O church building of the Calvary in doctrine and polity, or else to con­ ment, of London. In 1935 fourteen Presbyterian Church of Cedar Grove, tinue Presbyterian in doctrine and thousand churches were closed. A Wisconsin, will be dedicated at a polity and break with the old organi­ Polish publication gives official Soviet service to be conducted by the Rev. zation. figures to show that, between 1917 J. Gresham Machen, D.D., Litt.D. For some time they seriously en­ and 1935, 42,800 clergymen died in This service, eagerly anticipated by deavored to continue their fellowship concentration camps and that of the the congregation and its pastor, the with the Presbyterian Church in the 55,000 priests before the revolution Rev. John J. 'De Waard, will climax U.S.A. without compromising in the about one-fifth only remain. Last an inspiring history and a summer of least their witness to the Reformed Easter 35 churches were open in hard work. Faith. But the Presbyterian Church Moscow, with 75,000 persons attend­ The Calvary Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. - tolerant of every ing. At the tenth anniversary of the of Cedar Grove was organized on shade of doctrine, intolerant only of League of Militant Godless, cele­ June 9, 1936, with 301 members, but true Presbyterianism-made this im­ brated last year, President Yaroslav­ it is not a new church which came possible, and the people chose to con­ sky reported that half the population into being on that day. For more than tinue as a true Presbyterian Church of Russia was now atheist but that eighty years there had been in Cedar though they were required to build fifty per cent. of Russian youth still Grove a true Presbyterian Church. again in order to do so. cling to the Faith. Nina Kamneva, The system of doctrine set forth in At one time 376 members, out of holder of the women's championship the Westminster Standards was un­ a membership of 464 in the Presby­ for the delayed parachute jump, was derstood and loved not only by these terian Church in Cedar Grove, signed loudly cheered when she declared people, but also by their friends and a paper sent to the Presbytery of that in all her nebular travels she had relatives in the Reformed and Chris­ Milwaukee in which they asked the been unable to find God or the angels tian Reformed Churches of which presbytery to allow them to continue in the clouds. there are five in the community. In as a true Presbyterian church. While In the Soviet Union in 1935 there order to continue as a true Presby­ the paper was not so worded it was were 300 priests; today there are terian Church, the members have nevertheless perfectly plain that this fifteen. Moslems and Jews have ex­ been compelled to build another build­ was the substance of their request. perienced similar treatment. But news ing, for the Presbyterian Church in In order to continue as a true Pres- of the evangelical churches is even graver. The Lutheran church, in 1914, had 230 pastors. Now there are three. The groups in Northern Russia suf­ fered equally with the other evangel­ ical minorities when the Soviet real­ ized that the aims of the Christians of this area were radically divergent from their own. These groups remain a thorn in the governmental flesh be­ cause their very loose organization prevents them from being corporately crushed. The following is a significant state­ ment from the Communist Interna­ tional for 1936: "Among the objec­ tives of the cultural revolution the fight against religion, that opium of the people, holds a special place. In­ flexibly, systematically, anti-religious propaganda should be conducted and all education based upon a material conception of the universe." ... The Building Committee of the Calvary Presbyterian Church r

J THE PRESBYTERIAN GUARDIAN 151

byterian church it would not, so they lett in the old church. If these few Waard said, "It is with keen antici­ stated in this paper, be possible for members wanted a church, Presby­ pation that we are looking forward them to continue support of the terian in name only but with all man­ to the coming of Dr. Machen. With Boards of the Presbyterian Church ner of strange doctrines, they could this scholar and Christian leader we in the U.S.A. so long as these were have built themselves a little church are going to celebrate. It is said that teaching doctrines contrary to the for far less money than the main­ the 20th day of January will be an Word of God as set forth in the tenance and debt on the old church exciting day in Washington, for the Standards of the church. The Pres­ building required. But they had never President will be inaugurated. It may bytery of Milwaukee, finding it im­ taken the Presbyterian people of be. Certainly it will be a blessed day possible to answer this paper, simply Cedar Grove seriously; perhaps they for the people of Cedar Grove when ignored it. with Dr. Machen they set apart and Some time later 355 members of Cedar Grove Children consecrate to the Lord Jesus Christ the church, then still within the old of the Covenant who died for us their new building." organization, signed a formal petition to the presbytery in which they stated that if their request could not be granted they would have to break GERMAN PROTESTANT BODY their relationship with the denomina­ tion. This petition, in which they also DEMANDS RESIGNATION OF requested permission to keep their pastor, was before the three courts STATE-APPOINTED MINISTRY of the church but was not granted. In substance the Assembly ruled that N TUESDAY, December 22nd, a presbytery can constrain its minis­ O... the Prussian Confessional ters to support the Boards, regardless Synod, at present the most powerful of what these Boards may teach or Protestant opposition body, demanded do. To the members of the Cedar the immediate resignation of the Grove Church this seemed anything church administration appointed by but Presbyterian. Hans Kerrl, minister for church A minority petition, signed by 25 affairs. members of the Church, was then The confessional leaders assert composed by a ministerial member of they have been betrayed. The day be­ the presbytery who also obtained the ... Four Generations of the fore the Prussian Svnod convened in signatures. It prayed for pastoral Voskuil Family Breslau to consider" the proposals of dissolution on the sole ground that the the Church Ministry for complete minister disturbed the peace of the did not take them seriously now, church peace, the Rhineland police Cedar Grove church by telling the either. At all events the offer was not raided and suppressed the independ­ people the well-known truth that the accepted. ent Confessional Theological Semi­ Boards of the church were not Pres­ On August 5th the members began nary at Barmen-Elberfeld, near Co­ byterian in doctrine. This petition was building their new church, for they logne. granted. meant what they said. Without the The independent Confessional semi­ There was now but one thing for least bitterness in their hearts they naries were created in order that can­ the Cedar Grove people to do. If worked with joy all through the sum­ didates for the ministry might not be they wished to continue in the faith mer. They brought their teams and forced to receive their training under they would have to break their rela­ their shovels for the excavation, they German Christian teachers, whom the tionship with a denomination which carried brick, they mixed concrete, Confessional leaders regard as here­ tolerated all heresy and excluded and they hired men only for skilled tics, devoted body and soul to the only historic Christianity. They broke labor. What they could do themselves, service of the state. Accordingly, the their relationship with a denomina­ they did. The first unit of the build­ suppression of the Barmen-Elberfeld tion in which they had been members ing would surely have been com­ seminary caused the Synod to adopt for many years. A group of 301 mem­ pleted long ago had they hired some a series of resolutions indicating pro­ bers, which number soon grew to contractor to build it for them. It found distrust of the government's 380, left to organize the Calvary would have cost them more money conciliatory proposals and, in a cer­ Presbyterian Church. that way, and they would have missed tain sense, constituting a declaration Immediately they adopted plans for the joy and the pleasure which they of war. a new building, the first unit of found last summer. Noone ever Evidently expecting trouble the which is. now almost completed. But complained that he was asked to do Confessional Synod has adopted a before beginning construction they too much, and the sacrifice in money plan for the hurried training of lay offered to take over the old building and time was all a joy. Those who preachers to replace Confessional for the debt in it amounting to about know these people intimately believe pastors who may be expelled from $24,000. It seemed only fair to make that the love of Christ constrained their pulpits by the State-imposed this offer, though many of the mem­ them. church authorities. This has already bers were not eager to do so, because Commenting on the approaching been done in Wuerttenberg, and the less than one hundred members were dedication of the building, Mr. De National Church pastor complains

\l.... ----- _ .. 152 THE PRES BY T ER I AN GUARDIAN bitterly that his church is more than gatherings about three million per­ half empty. Nevertheless, it is not sons received gift packages provided CHIANG KAI-SHEK'S RELEASE available for ordinary Protestant by the National Socialist welfare or­ AVERTS CRISIS IN CHINA services. ganization, and listened to a speech Ministers admitted as religious in­ by Dr. Joseph Goebbels, high priest HE release on Christmas day of structors in public schools are for­ of propaganda and mouthpiece of the bidden to be active in Confessional party movement. In his speech Dr. Tthe kidnapped Chinese Generalis­ youth organizations. Public school Goebbels seemingly attempted to simo, Chiang Kai-Shek, is of almost teachers who join the Nazi Teachers' ascribe deity to Hitler when he said, incalculable importance to the whole Federation must resign membership "We unite in this hour in sincere and missionary enterprise in China.. in any Confessional teachers' organ­ hearty thankfulness to the Fuehrer, The Generalissimo is himself a ization. who as faithful guardian of the Ger­ Christian, having been baptized Young people's societies conducted man people is a special patron of our through the ministry of southern under church auspices are not per­ nation's children. The children love Methodist missionaries. He can be mitted to operate their own summer' him because they have the feeling counted upon to be friendly toward camps. that he loves the children. He is in the modern effort for the evangeliza­ Finally the Confessional Synod has spirit with all German children at tion of China. And the friendship of revived the Protestant Youth groups, this feast. Three million pairs of this man counts for more than that which were turned over to Hitler in bright eyes look up to his picture and of any other. Chiang Kai-Shek is re­ 1933. remember him." garded as the greatest force for order To escape the decree of compulsory Minister Hans Kerrl emphasized and unity in China today. His death membership in the State Youth group even more strongly the new signifi­ would probably result in quarrels for i which suppresses all other youth cance of Christmas, when he said, supremacy among his lieutenants and 1 J groups, the Confessional organiza­ "The Christmas celebration is for us the disintegration of China. The great­ • tions will be parochial affairs devoted today not only a family celebration est single check to communism, out­ 1 in principle to purely religious activi­ but an all-embracing and uniting cele­ lawry and other forces which are ~ ties. bration of the German people's com­ hostile to Christianity would be gone. f What the result of all these moves munity, which marches in solidarity and in many quarters the missionary will be cannot now be predicted, but behind its Fuehrer above all confes­ enterprise would probably be placed J certainly the State will not ignore sions and classes. in jeopardy, or completely crippled. them. The National Socialist party "One will, one spirit and one love His unique place in the affections of has always shown itself particularly rule among us. That is the work of the Chinese people may be gauged impatient with any interference with the Fuehrer, which grew out of com­ from the wave of resentment against , its totalitarian program of training radeship and love. It is the Fuehrer his kidnapper. j and instruction of the younger gen­ who assures the German future for us The audacious kidnapper, Chang eration in its own ideals and concepts. and our children." Hsueh Liang, represents China at its It must not be assumed that all w~rst-ruthless, unprincipled, greedy, Germany is thinking this way about treacherous. Even missionaries as Christmas. This so far is the voice dauntless as Pearl Buck's father, "the NAZIS SUBSTITUTE HITLER of Naziism as exemplified by Hitler's fighting angel" -would find it diffi­ own body-guard and the all-powerful cult to cope with such forces. Chang FOR CHRIST IN GERMANY'S secret police. But in the last few has been something of a bad boy in I years Germany has, for good reasons, China. His father, the General Chang J CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS obediently followed where these have Tso Lin, was war lord of Manchuria led. until he was killed by a bomb. Suc­ NDER National Socialism the ceeding his father, young Chang was U festival of Christmas was this driven out of Manchuria by the Jap­ year moved up to December 21st, TABLE OF CONTENTS anese conquest of 1931, and has be­ linked with the winter solstice, and Shall We Have Christian Schools? 133 come the leading advocate of war given a neo-pagan complexion that AN EDITORIAL with -japan. Through disloyalty, he completely erases the glory of the in­ There Were Giants in Those Days 135 had been forced to live abroad for a carnation and the birthday of Jesus Charles J. Woodbridge time. Restored recently to a place of Christ. Karl Barth on Scripture 137 trust, he was sent to the far west to Some of the more extreme Nazis Cornelius Van Til suppress banditry and aid in the unifi­ are even accusing Christianity of The "Kingdom of Heaven" and the cation of China. Instead, he seems to having stolen the winter solstice cele­ "Kingdom of God" 139 have made common cause with ene­ bration of the German forefathers John Murray mies of Chiang Kai-Shek, and when and of adapting it to Christian pur­ On Being Siandered-A Meditation ... 142 the latter went to take his lieutenant poses. David Freeman to task, he was kidnapped and the The National Socialist holiday cele­ The Sunday School Lessons 143 world was told that he had been bration was formally inaugurated on Leslie W. Sloat murdered in cold blood. Christians Monday, December 21st, in 2300 com­ Studies in the Shorter Catechism ....• 146 throughout the world are giving fer­ munities comprising every city and John H. Skilton vent thanks to Almighty God at the town of any size in Germany. At these A SURVEY OF NEWS ...... 148 news of the Generalissimo's release.