A. Yes, it is; Deut. xvii. 19- And it shall be with him, and he shall feed therein all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep aii the words of this law, and these statutes to do them. And in reading of it, God sometimes comes in by his Spirit to men's conversion ; Acts viii. ^7, 28, 29. And he arose and went, and behold a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, was returning, and sitting in his chariot, read Isaias the prophet. Then the Spirit said to Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot, &c.
Q. 4. Is the hearing of the word a means of salvation ?
A. Yes, it is; Isa. Iv. 3. Incline your ear, and come unto me; hear, and your soul shall live, &c. 1 Cor. i. 21. It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching, to save them that believe.
Q. 5. To v,hat end is the word useful to men.'*
A. The first end and use of the word is to convince men of their sin and misery out of Christ ; 1 Cor. xiv. 24, 25. But if all prophesy, and there come in one tliat bdieveth not, or one unlearned, he is con-
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\mced of all, he is judged of all. And thus arc tlic secrets of his heart made manifest, &c.
Q. 6. What is it useful for, besides conviction ? A. It is useful for conversion, as well as conviction ; Psal. xix. 7. The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul, &c. Acts xxvi. 18. To turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, &c.
Q. 7. Doth the word convince and convert all that hear it ? A. No, but tiiose onlythat are ordained to eternal life; Actsxiii. 48. As many as were ordained to eternal life believed. Q. 8. What else is the word useful for ?
A. To build up the saints to perfection in Christ; Eph. iv. 11, 12, 13. And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evan- gelists, and some pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ ; till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man ; unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. Acts xx. 32. And now, brethren, I com- mend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified.
Q. 9. May the common people read the scriptures ? A. Yes, it is a duty commanded by Christ ; John v. 39. Search the scriptures, &c. And commended by the apostle; Acts xvii. 11. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so,
Q. 10. Is it their duty or liberty also to preach it ? A. No, it is not ; for besides abilities for that work, there must be a call ; Rom. x. 1 4, 15. How shall they hear without a preacher r and how shall they preach, except they be sent, Sec. Q. 11. What is the first instruction from hence ? A. That the enjoyments of the scriptures, and an able, faithful ministry to expound and apply them, is a special mercy to any people ; Psal. cxlvii. 19, 20. He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and judgments unto Israel ; he hath not dealt so with any nation ; and as for his judgments they have not known them. Q. 12. What is the second instruction ?
A. That men cannot expect special and spiritual blessings from God in the wilful neglect of the ordinances ; Prov. xxviii. 9. He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
Q. 13. What is the third inference ?
A. That sad is their condition, who sit all their days under tlie word to no purpose at all ; 2 Cor. iv. 3, 4. If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost : in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of th«^
27^ AN EXPOSITION OF THE ASSEMBLY'S CATECHISM.
glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine into them.
Q. 14. What is the last inference ?
A. That Christ's ordinances and ministers should be most wel- come to the people to whom God sends them ; Isa. lii. 7. How- beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that pubhsheth peace, that publisheth salvation, that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth.
Cff the Manner of' Hearing.
Quest. 90. JrloW is the word to be read and heard, that it may become effectual to salvation ?
A. That the zcord may become effectual to salvation, we must at- tend thereunto with diligence, preparation, and prayer, receive itwith faith and love, lay it up in your hearts, and practise it in your lives.
Q. 1. If the matter we read or hear be good, is not that enough for our salvation ?
A. No, God requires that the word be read and heard in a due manner, and the manner of hearing is of special regard with God ; Luke viii. 18. Take heed therefore how ye hear, &c.
Q. 2. How many things belong to the due manner of hearing?
A. Three sorts of duties belong to it ; some antecedent, as pre- paration and prayer ; some concomitant, as due diligence and re- tention ; and some subsequent, as practice.
Q. 3. What is due preparation for hearing ?
A. It consists in serious consideration of the greatness and holiness of that God whom we approach in hearing the word ; Acts x. 33. Now therefore v*e are all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God. And awing the heart even to a degree of holy trembling thereby ; Isa. Ixvi. % To him will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
Q. 4. What is the principal consideration thus to awe the heart ?
A. The word is in its own nature a heart-searching word ; Heb. iv. 12. For the word of God is quick and powerful, and sliarper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And that eventually it will be the savour of life or death to us; 2 Cor. ii. 16. To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life, &c.
Q. 5. What else belongs to due preparation to hear ?
A. The discharging of the heart from worldly cares; Mat. xiii. 7. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choaked them. And carnal lusts; James i. 21. Whereiore lay apart all iilthiness and supei-fluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the ingrafted word, whicli is able to save your souls.
AN EXPOSITION OF THE ASSEMBLY'S CATECHISM. 275
Q. 6. What is the third act of due preparation ?