Beloved Congregation.

In a previous letter I offered some comments regarding the various periods or seasons in which God regenerates His elect, in accordance with His eternal and unsearchable counsel. Oh, how infinitely sovereign are God's dealings with His people! Here, too, it becomes manifest that no one can stay His hand, or say unto Him, "What doest Thou?" Those who labored only one hour in the vineyard still received the same wages as those who labored there their entire life's day.

Accordingly, regardless of how early or late the Lord calls His people, the main thing for us will be to belong to those who are called out of darkness to God's marvelous light. Assuredly, the one as well as the other will praise and glorify that divine miracle of free and sovereign grace forever and ever in the new Jerusalem above.

In this letter I intend to write something more regarding the manner in which God magnifies His work in the hearts of His people, continuing the subject which I began to discuss in a former letter.

The manner may often differ greatly, too. The seed of the gospel may at times remain hidden in the earth of the heart for a long period. Just think of the case of Nicodemus and of Joseph of Arimathea. Some receive a severe blow in their heart at a certain time, but they nevertheless go on in sin for a shorter or longer period. God's Word speaks of those who do not have the strength to bring forth. Some­times the work of grace can lie dormant in the heart for many long years, to sprout forth only in the evening of their life. When the seed does begin to sprout, when heart and lips begin to speak, then they refer to events of years gone by, of warnings, of conscience disturbances, of convictions in their souls, which they nevertheless disregarded, until finally the snorting steed surrenders.

With others it may be that the Lord drags and pulls them along the brink of the abyss, as it were. The judgment of God, the curse of God, is declared in their soul in a fearful manner. Hell is opened to them. The wrath of God burns in their soul. Sin as it is dishonoring to God is discovered to them; sin in its true character is presented to their mind. "Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of God's waterspouts." They are dismayed in their hearts, and wail and lament, declaring that it is forever too late. They have no rest at all, and are brought almost to despair, as we read of the jailor at Philippi. However, God does not permit them to perish in despair. God holds them in His hand, grants deliver­ance, and gives liberty to their souls. David declares in Psalm 116:3-4, "I found trouble and sorrow. Then called I upon the name of the Lord." The ancients used to say, "It matters not how strong the convictions are, but how true and genuine they are." Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of.

It pleases the Lord to draw some in a very loving manner. David says in Psalm 23:2, "He leadeth me beside the still waters." Some are quickened in a very pleasant and loving manner; not by the thunders of Sinai, but by the delights of the gospel. God opens their hearts, enlightens their understanding, inclines their will, regulates their affections, sets their feet on the pathway of life, causes them to taste the sweetness of God's precious Word, unfolds the gospel to them, pours out His love in their hearts by the Holy Ghost, and makes room in their souls for Christ. They behold His glory by faith, surrender themselves to Him unconditionally, and their heart declares within them, "With my whole heart have I sought Thee; O let me not wander from Thy commandments." What delightful experiences the Lord gives to such persons! Usually they participate much in God's love and are over­whelmed with thoughts regarding the greatness of God's free and sovereign compassion.

Still others receive the life of God in a calm and quiet manner. Such persons generally do not have that depth of experience which others have. This is so with regard to convictions, sorrows and distresses on the one hand, but also deliverances, joys and happiness on the other. Accordingly, their whole inner life as a rule is covered, concealed, little manifest to others; nevertheless God reveals and declares the mysteries of His grace in Christ in their hearts by His Spirit. They have moments, too, when the kingdom of heaven is opened to them by the Word, and by God Himself.

Finally, the state of mind of some whom God regenerates by His Spirit, as an ancient divine wrote regarding such, may be subject to many changes: They fall and rise again; they experience many conflicts and victories; they have many ups and downs; one day they believe and the next they doubt; they are either very happy or very sad.

Such people do not live very calm and quiet lives, but rather one of contrasts. At one time they may be on a high mountain; at another time in the lowest valley.

Oh, what a privilege it is if we may find our name written in God's testimony. It is true, it may be that it is there but that we cannot read it. At all times we have need of the light of the Holy Spirit, and something of that true faith which excludes all doubt, that faith which consists in knowledge, assent and trust. Most blessed are they who may declare with Job: "I know that my Redeemer liveth," and with Paul, "I know whom I have believed."

May God also manifest and confirm His divine work in the days in which we live.  

It is not only from the womb or in early life that God glorifies Himself in the riches of His grace in the hearts of His people but we have examples that He does so also at middle age.

The disciples were no longer children when Christ called them. One was a fisherman, another was a tax collector, and a third was engaged in another occupation. Lydia was a seller of purple from Thyatira and a mother of children. The jailor at Philippi had a family also as the book of Acts tells us plainly. The almighty power of God was revealed in these people since all of them were called with a holy calling.

The disciples forsook all and followed Jesus, which is an indication that the Spirit of God works powerfully and irresistibly. In ourselves there is no strength or ability to deliver ourselves out of that under which we are bound. The requirement is: "Forget also thine own people, and thy father's house; so shall the King greatly desire thy beauty" (Ps. 45:10, 11). But whatsoever God requires He also promises to bestow and He bestows it of free mercy for Christ's sake upon all those who are included in the covenant of grace.

Matthew left the receipt of custom (taxes) and never again returned. He found a place in the heart of God and received a place also in God's Church. "The memory of the just is blessed" (Prov. 10:7). Lydia was a religious person for she sat under the truth but her heart was closed for all that. At first she did God service but God began to serve her at length. It was under the preaching of Paul that the Lord opened her heart and the fruits of this quickening began to manifest themselves immediately. She became attached to God's Word, God's ordinances, and God's servants; and as soon as her heart was opened, her house and purse were opened, too. God and His service meant everything to her from that moment.

When the bands of Paul and Silas were loosed in prison the jailor came in. His despairing thoughts had a blessed issue. He learned to know himself as a lost sinner before God, and salvation in Christ was embraced by him as well as discovered to him. The genuine fruits of righteousness were so evi­dent that one needs not seek in vain for them. They are there for the taking. Now to what purpose must we cite more examples? God adds also men and women to the congregation that shall once be saved.

Again, when conversion takes place at the close of life it is likewise an act of God's free mercy and sovereign power. Abraham was seventy-five years old when God called him out of Ur of the Chaldees. It was towards the evening of life and the day was far spent, but the time of God's good pleasure arrived for him to the praise of God's sovereign grace. He bade adieu to everything and complied unconditionally. Who shall stay God's hand or say unto Him: "What doest Thou?" Hardest hearts must melt away under the drawing love of the Father, the redeeming love of the Son, and the sanctify­ing love of the Holy Spirit. They are to be counted blessed who obtain a knowledge of this precious divine work before the night season of life arrives.

This however is not a fruit of our own doings. No one, if left to himself, will ever ask or seek after God. The Lord says so plainly in His Word. "They are all gone aside … there is none that doeth good, no not one" (Ps. 14:3). If it depended upon us it would be a hopeless case forever. It is a divine work and a divine miracle from the be­ginning to the end. "We behold but understand it not."

When we consider the thief on the cross we may say: "It was the eleventh hour." He was already sentenced, yes, even the execution had already taken place. Hell was ready to receive him, but the Prince of life enters the regions of death. What Simeon prophe­sied concerning Christ was fulfilled again on Golgotha! "This child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against." One of the thieves remained hardened while the other was humbled. In the last hour of his life he was privileged to justify God, condemn himself, and, as a suppliant, to plead for mercy.

Never, no never can anyone say that it is impossible for him to be converted. Only for those who sinned against the Holy Ghost is this impossible. Otherwise there is still opportunity to be saved. "What is impossible with men is possible with God" (Luke 18). Nevertheless, friends, I pray you, do not delay or postpone it to a sickbed or deathbed. Only God knows whether we will ever be privileged to have a sickbed. Thousands are cut off as in a moment and summoned before the great Judge of heaven and earth. Oh, be not careless or indifferent but seek the Lord in the days of health while He may be found!

It is not God's ordinary way to convert people on their sickbeds. As a rule we must be careful with deathbed conversions. Sometimes the conscience is lulled to sleep, sometimes a text or psalm comes into the mind of such persons and it is believed to come from the Lord, whereas they were never quickened from death to life and they never lay at the door of grace as lost sinners in themselves! There are many who have gone to hell imagining to go to heaven. In such cases also the devil appears as an angel of light. Besides, how often it has happened that conversions which took place during sickness were forgotten and those who were raised up from a sickbed went back into the world.

I wrote something about the thief on the cross, who according to God's sovereignty, was plucked as a firebrand out of the fire. To be sure that man was a striking example of sovereign grace.

The one thief remained what he was: a wicked scorner, for he even reviled the Lord Jesus. True, he was willing to be delivered out of his misery, but his sin was no burden to him … if only he could be rescued from the cross.

Free grace had destined the other to be the first fruit of the New Testament Church. Very properly a minister, in a catechism class, observed that in the confession of this thief who was converted to God, there are five things noteworthy:

1. He admonished his neighbor. "Dost not thou fear God?"
2. He condemned himself and owned his guilt, "We indeed justly."
3. He justified God, and accepted his punishment, "We receive the due re­ward of our deed."
4. He believed that Jesus was without sin and immaculate, for he said, "But this man hath done nothing amiss."
5. He acknowledged Jesus in His Godhead and in His Kingship, for he prayed, "Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom."

Clearly the characteristics of saving faith manifested themselves in this thief, but it was also evident that he could not find life in the confession itself, no, he felt the need of the Savior.

However, not to enter any further into the conversion of this thief, we should consider the fact that in the Word of God there is but one example recorded, viz. of this man, who received grace in the last moments of his life, and to whom heaven was opened and assurance was given of an entrance into Paradise.

Truly, it is God's sovereignty to teach one man more theology in one hour than another during his whole life. However, it is not for us to venture on what God can do.

Nevertheless, all these divers ways which God employs in the gathering in of His people at different ages, shall prove to be to the praise and honor of God's great and holy Name. Still, that example of the thief grants us liberty to preach the gospel and to show forth the way of salvation even till the end of a person's life. God is gracious and of great mercy in Christ to all that call upon Him in truth.

And if it has been true in our heart that we have learned to know the time in which we were cut off from Adam and implanted into Christ; a time in which we learned to know a godly sorrow; learned to hunger and thirst after the righteousness of Christ, then the God of all truth in His time makes it true in our hearts.

The time of our trembling, doubts, and fears may be many in our life; frequently we may be seized with sorrows and vexations, but God crowns His own work that shall be to His honor and glory forever. Those that are at ease in Zion and trust in the mountain of Samaria may indeed quake and tremble! What an awakening it will be, not only for all the unconcerned, but also for all that have journeyed and lived with God's people, but who were never added to the Church by God Himself and who have never learned to know what was experienced by His people. To count on an entrance into heaven and then to plunge into hell, how dreadful it will be: that self-deception, that missing the mark forever!

There is no work, nor device, nor knowledge in the grave whither we go, and in the place of eternal woe the gospel shall never again be preached. When death enters, the time of grace ends. May the Lord yet open the blind eyes, ere it shall be too late forever.

May God Himself bind the seriousness and the weight upon the hearts of young and old. The times in which we live are so dark. God does so withhold His Spirit, and the hardening of hearts increases steadily. The consideration of the growing carelessness should cause our hearts to tremble and shudder. May God have mercy on us and on our children. Impressions of death and eternity are as it were obliterated in many. Hearts and thoughts are filled with games and sports. Generally speaking, the cry is for eating and drinking and playing. What will become of us if God gives us over unto ourselves?

Boys and girls, do break with sin! Forsake the foolish and live; and go in the way of understanding. May God convert you and give you to abhor the world and sin, but may He also create in you a desire and love to walk in His ways.

If there are among us souls that are faint-hearted on account of their guilt and sin, and because they miss God, oh that you might be encouraged. May the consolations of the Holy Spirit become the portion of the disconsolate.

The door of grace is still open. It is still possible to be saved. Christ came to seek and to save that which is lost. The blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, cleanses from all sins.

No hearts are too young to be converted to God, and on the other hand, no hairs are too gray to take refuge unto God. Do not postpone until tomorrow, but, "Today, if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts," It cannot but exceed your expectations if you might find grace in the eyes of God.

If you cannot pray, then groan; if you cannot breathe any more groan­ings, then let your eyes be ever toward the Lord (Ps. 25:15).

I shall gladly, with the Lord's help, comply with your request for an explanation of the meaning of the word "regeneration" which occurs so many times in God's Word.

In Scripture the word is used in two ways. I am thinking first of all of Matthew 19:28 where we read: "And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed me, in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judg­ing the twelve tribes of Israel." The word is used here to denote the restoration of all things at the end of the ages. The curse which followed upon the fall in Paradise and came upon the world shall then be completely removed. In principle, the judgment of the world, considered as God's crea­tion was already removed when Christ arose. Christ's triumph was complete. The very root and substance of the new heavens and the new earth which the elect shall one day inherit lies in the resurrection of Christ.

There is also another meaning of the word "regeneration." When Christ spoke to Nicodemus concerning regeneration in John 3 He meant the miracle which God performs in the hearts of His people when He quickens them to newness of life. This work of God is described in various ways. In the Scriptures of truth we read of a divine "deliverance" (Col. 1:13); of a "taking away of the stony heart and giving a heart of flesh" (Ezek. 36); of a "renewing" (2 Cor. 5:17), etc.

Our well-known divines understood by this word "regeneration" not only the spiritual conception, but also the spiritual formation of the new creature and the spiritual birth itself. Since we are finite creatures and can form only one idea at a time, we must distinguish between calling, regeneration, conversion, faith, and sanctification, but the Holy Scripture sometimes includes in one word all of these together.

Regeneration can be explained as a supernatural, divine act whereby the Lord, for the sake of Christ's merits, im­plants in the heart of the elect sinner who is by nature dead, fallen, and un­clean, a new and divine life through the incorruptible seed of His Word which is made fruitful by the infinite power of the Holy Spirit. It is called a birth, a being born again, a new birth, or a being born from above, not only because it takes place after one's natural birth and is wrought from above, but also because of the close similarity there is between them. Let me mention a few things which will make it clear that we can speak correctly of a "new birth."

Natural birth is a mystery. David de­clared with animation: "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well." Not one of even the most learned men of the world is able to understand the phe­nomenon of natural conception and birth. And though we are blessed ever so many times in a natural way with the birth of a child, it remains a miracle still. So it is also with the new birth which is wrought by God.

"The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them" (1 Cor. 2:14). These things go beyond the natural understanding. We can indeed marvel at and admire the works of God, but we can never comprehend or understand them. One moment Saul of Tarsus is a bitter per­secutor of Christ and His Church and the next moment he is a preacher of Christ and a hearty friend of the Church. One day the jailor is a sworn enemy of the Church and the next day he is a great friend of God's servants.

Thus we could multiply examples. We may well exclaim: "How great are Thy works, O Lord!" The birth from above is beyond our understanding.

Natural birth is effected by means of a seed. This second supernatural birth can likewise not be effected other than by the seed of the Word bedewed and fructified by the Holy Ghost. For proof of this from God's Word consider first of all James 1:18: "Of His own will begat He us with the Word of truth …," then 1 Peter 1:23: "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God which liveth and abideth forever."

This word of God is compared to seed and it teaches us that although it is small to all appearances it is nevertheless effectual in working. Although it lies hidden at first, it continues to grow and at last bears most precious fruit.

Throughout all ages God has used His Word as a means of conversion. Without it no conversion to God is possible. Either we are brought to the means or the means are brought to us. "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." By His Spirit God causes the Word to become "quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword …" Accompanied by the Spirit, the Word brings forth fruit worthy of faith and repentance.

For those who perish the Word is a savor of death unto death, but to those who are saved it is a savor of life unto life and the power of God unto salvation. Blessed are those who may learn to know something of the power of the Word in their hearts and lives.

Only this remains to be said: God's counsel is hidden from us. "Secret things are for the Lord our God." I pray you, young and old, great and small, redeem the time and take ad­vantage of the opportunities which God still grants you while He spares you and extends your time of grace. Do not neglect placing yourselves under the pure means of grace. Maybe a seed will fall which will be for your eternal gain. May God bless His Word for Jesus' sake!