THE late Mr. C. B. van Woerden, Holland, was known personally to many in the Free Presbyterian Church in Scotland, also by his letters, which were appreciated by readers of the Free Presbyterian Magazine. He came to Scotland on business and acquired a good knowledge of the English language. When business was done, he went, like the disciples, to his own company. He used to tell freely of how the Lord had given him from his sixth year impressions of the need of forgiveness of sins and that he went in secret to search for grace. Acknowledging sin and weeping because of this, he hoped to be delivered from the debt and power of sin. However he was disappointed with himself and his efforts. God in His infinite wisdom showed him by this way the depravity of his heart and the power of sin.
During that time he met with persons, who told him to believe in Christ and to accept Him as his Redeemer. However they did not tell him that man was fallen, and dead in trespasses and sins. He tried to exercise this faith in his own strength but failed (1 Tim. 1, 19). The burden of the debt became heavier. Under his efforts to satisfy the law and the gospel, the Lord showed him, that he put strange fire on the altar instead of looking to the merits of Christ. He was afraid of being condemned, eternally as those who had sinned in the same way in previous times. However, to his great astonishment the Lord then spoke to him: “That He had no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.” (Ezek. xxxiii. 11). By this discovery of free grace he got deep impressions of the mercy of the Lord and decided to give a bill of divorcement to the world. The effects of this discovery soon passed away, however, and instead of him leaving the world he realised the world had not left him. Sin returned and the law came back with its demands. His hope began to disappear as he thought that the Lord was as changeable as he was, forgetting that He was faithful towards unfaithful men. A day came on which the Lord showed him that He, by no means, would clear the guilty. The demand of divine justice to condemn him was revealed and his mouth was closed, justifying God, should the sentence be executed. In this moment the Mediator, Jesus, was revealed and the Lord showed him that He had loved him from eternity and that He would no more remember his sins. He wondered and had joy unspeakable, finding that free grace was glorified in the salvation of the greatest of sinners. The knowledge of the love of God in Christ has since then been the chief theme of his conversation.
When he took ill his soul came under a cloud but he cried unto the Lord and He delivered him from his distress (Ps. cvii. 6). He exclaimed repeatedly: “My Lord and my God!” He was enabled to look back over the way which he was led and declared what the Lord had done for his soul. He endured much pain, but when the Lord gave His word, his body seemed to get strength. Many friends visited him in his last days and he spoke to them according to their state admonishing them faithfully or consoling them. He spoke to each of his children and took leave of them in a heartmoving way. To one of the last he spoke about her state for eternity and added: “I wish you may get sealing grace” and prayed that “the Lord would establish the work of His hands.” To another child he said: “Persevere at the throne of grace and seek from God to hope in His mercy.” Again, to another he spoke: “Don’t run away from God. To be afraid of God is the work of the devil and unbelief.” Once he cried out: “O Lord, deliver me from a body of sin and death. Thou, O Lord, art pure and holy and just, but sin is injustice.”
When two of his children took leave of him, he said: “It is very difficult to ascend that mountain. The Lord grant you to ascend the top of this mountain and behold the beauty of Zion.”
One of the members of his family asked whether he was afraid of death or not. He raised his hands and said with all seriousness: “No! I am not afraid; but God is a great God and we are great sinners.” A moment later he said: “I am sinful but His goodness is unsearchable.” When a few friends visited him he said: “If all the powers of hell would point out my sins to me, then their right to condemn me would not take away a millionth part of the power of Christ to save me.” In the evening he said: “God is great and eternity is great. It does not matter who he is, but man will only be saved by eternal, free, electing love. Oh, what shall it be to be saved for eternity, but what shall it be to be lost. Ask it in heaven, there they know it; or ask it in hell, they know it there. We all need a God, who is infinite in compassion. I lift my eyes to my God and Father in Christ Jesus.”
One friend asked what he had to say to other friends. He replied: “To my shame I have to say that I have been and am an unfaithful creature but the Lord has remained the faithful One. He has not cast me off, but He has comforted my soul in His love. Such a faithful God He is to me and I have hope in my soul for you too. I believe that the Lord is our God for eternity. O Lord be always my refuge and fortress and withdraw not thyself too much but if Thou wilt do so I will wait and my soul will hope on Thy faithfulness. O Lord, Thou art my portion for eternity. Tell the friends that I have confirmed this with my expiring breath but with a living faith.”
When he spoke of his unfaithfulness, it was clear that his conscience was made tender. He made remarks to this effect: “In heaven there will be no sadness, but if it was there I would wish to weep eternally because of my unfaithfulness and unthankfulness.” At the same time his joy in believing came forth clearly. He said: “Now I know what it is to be washed from all my sins and made white in the blood of the Lamb. Oh, what an eternal wonder for such as I am. When my soul will be taken up shortly, then I will shout: Praise, thanks and glory be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne.” In the evening of the 18th November, 1932, he passed away at the age of 72 years.
The memory of the just is blessed and their works do follow them. He being dead yet speaketh. He spent the latter part of his life translating many of the works of the old Scottish divines into Dutch. He served the church in Holland with translations of Ralph and Ebenezer Erskine, Andrew Gray, Halyburton, Samuel Rutherford’s Sermons, Christ Dying and Drawing Sinners to Himself and The Trial and Triumph of Faith, also works of Perkins, Thomas Shepard, Hugh Binning and others. He now belongs to that part of the church which does not require any translation.—C. B. van Woerden, Jr.