and establishing their hearts in holiness and comfort through faith unto falvation'. Q. 156. Is the word of God to be read by all? A. Although all are not permitted to read the word publicly to the congregation", yet all forts of people are bound to read it apart by themfelves", and with their families*: to which end, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up. 2 Tim. 3. 15, 16. I Cor. 3. 9, 10, II. t Rom. 16. 25. Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gofpel, and the preaching of Jefus Chrift, according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept fecret fince the world began. I Theff. 3. 2, 13. And fent Timotheus our brother, and minifter of God and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Chrift, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith: &c. Rom. 10. 14, 15, 16, 17. v Deut. 31, 9, II, 12, 13. And Mofes wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests, the fons of Levi-and unto all the elders of Ifrael. Gather the people together, men and women, and children, and thy ftranger that is within thy gates, that they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and obferve to do all the words of this law: &c. w Deut. 17. 18, 89. And it fhall be when he fitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he fhall write him a copy of this law in a book, out of that which is before the priests the Levites; and it fhall be with him, and he fhall read therein all the days of his life.Ifa. 34. 16. Seek ye out of the book of the Lord and read.-John 5. 39. Search the fcriptures. Rev. I. 3. Bleffed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein. x Deut. 6. 6, 7. And these words which I command thee this day, fhall be in thine heart, and thou fhalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and fhalt talk of them, when thou fittest in thine house, and when thou walkeft by the way, and when thou lieft down, and when thou rifest up. Pfa. 78. 5, 6. For he established a teftimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Ifrael, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children; that the generation to come might know the holy fcriptures are to be translated out of the original into vulgar languages'. Q. 157. How is the word of God to be read ? A. The holy fcriptures are to be read with an high and reverend esteem of them; with a firm perfuafion that they are the very word of God, and that he only can enable us to understand them"; with defire to know, believe and obey the will of God revealed in them; with diligence, and attention to the matter and scope of them; them, even the children, which should be born: who should arife and declare them to their children. y I Cor. 14. 2, to 29. ver. 18. 19. I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others alfo, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. z Pfa 119. 97. O how love I thy law-Nehemiah 8. 5. And Ezra opened the book in the fight of all the people-and when he opened it, all the peopie ftood up: &c.-Ifa. 66. 2. But to this man will I look, even to him that is poor, and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. a 2 Pet. I. 21.-Holy men of God fpake as they were moved by the Holy Ghoft. I Theis. 2. 13. b Pfa. 119. 18. Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. -Luke 24 45. c James 1. 21, 22. Receive with meeknefs the ingrafted word, which is able to fave your fouls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your ownfelves. I Pet. 2. 2. As new-born babes defire the fincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. Mark 4. 20. d Acts 17. 11. These (Bereans) were more noble than thofe in Theffalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and fearched the fcriptures daily, whether thofe things were fo. Deut. II. 13. e Acts 8. 30, 34. And Philip faid, Underftandeft thou what thou readeft? And the eunuch anfwered Philip,-Of whom fpeaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of fome other man? Mat, 13. 23. with meditation, applications, felf-denial", and prayer'. Q 158. By whom is the word of God to be preached? A. The word of God is to be preached only by fuch as are fufficiently gifted, and also duly approved and called to that office'. Q. 159. How is the word of God to be preached by thofe that are called thereunto? A. They that are called to labour in the miniftry of the word are to preach found doctrine, diligently", in feason, and out of feafon; plain thou to faithful men, who fhall be able to teach others alfo. Mat. 2. 7. 1 Rom. 10. 15. And how fhall they preach, except they be fent? Heb. 5. 4. And no man taketh this honour unto himfelf, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. 1 Tim. 3. 10. And let thefe alfo first be proved, then let them ufe the office of a deacon, being found blameless. m Tit. 2. 1, 8. But fpeak thou the things which become found doctrine; found fpeech that cannot be condemned. n Acts 18. 25. Being fervent in the fpirit, he spake and taught, diligently, the things of the Lord. o 2 Tim. 4. 2. Preach the word; be inftant in season, out of feafon. d lyp, not in the enticing words of man's wifdom, but in demonftration of the Spirit, and of power; faithfully', making known the whole counfel of God'; wifely', applying themselves to the neceffities and capacities of the hearers'; zealoufly", with fervent love to God, and the fouls of his people'; fincerely', aiming at his glo p1 Cor. 14.9. Except ye utter by the tongue words eafy to be understood, how fhall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. qI Cor. 2. 4. And my fpeech, and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonftration of the Spirit and of power. r Jer. 23 28. He that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. 1 Cor. 4. 1, 2. Let a man fo account of us, as the minifters of Chrift, and ftewards of the myfteries of God. Moreover it is required in ftewards, that a man be found faithful. Mat. 24. 45, 46, 47. f Acts 20. 27. For I have not fhunned to declare unto you all the counfel of God. t Col. I. 28. Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wifdom. 2 Tim. 2. 15. Study to fhew thyself approved unto Gol, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. VI Cor. 3. 2. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat; for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. Heb. 5. 12, 13, 14. I Theff. 2. 7. Luke 12. 42. w Acts 18. 25. This man was inftructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the fpirit, he fpake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. 2 Tim. 4. 5. x 2 Cor. 5. 13, 14. For whether we be besides ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be fober, it is for your caufe. For the love of Christ constraineth us because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead. Phil. 1. 15, 16, 17. y 2 Cor. 4. 2. And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you, though the more abundantly I love you, the lefs I be loved. 1Theff. 3. 12. z 2 Cor. 4.2. But we have renounced the hidden things of difhonefty, not walking in craftinefs, nor hand'ing the word of God deceitfully, but by manifeftation of the truth, commending ourfelves to every man's confcience in the fight of God. 2 Cor. 2. 17. ry, and their converfion", edification, and fal-. vation". Q. 160. What is required of thofe that hear the word preached? A. It is required of thofe that hear the word preached, that they attend upon it with diligence, preparation and prayer"; examine what they hear by the fcriptures"; receive the truth a John 7 18. He that fpeaketh of himself, feeketh his own glory; but he that feeketh his glory that fent him, the fame is true, and no unrighte ot foefs is in him. I Theff. 2. 4. 5, 6. b1 Cor. 9. 19, 20, 21, 22. For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself fervant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law, &c. I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means fave fome. c 2 Cor. 12. 19. But we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying. Eph 4. 12. d 1 Tim. 4. 16. Take heed unto thyfelf, and unto thy doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this, thou shalt both fave thyfelf, and them that hear thee. 2 Tim. 2. IO. Therefore I endure all things for the elect's fake, that they may alfo obtain the falvation, which is in Chrift Jefus, with eternal glory Acts 26. 16–18. e Pfal. 84. I, 2, 4 How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of kofts! My foul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord. Bleffed are they that dwell in thy houfe, they will be still praifing thee. Pfal. 27. 4. Prov, 8.34. f Luke 8. 18. Take heed, therefore, how ye hear. I Pet. 2. I, 2. Wherefore laying afide all malice, and all guile, and hypocrifies, and cnvies, and all evil fpeakings; as new-born babes defire the fincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. James 1. 21. g Pfal. 119. 18. Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. Eph. 6. 18. 19. h Acts 17. 11. And fearched the fcriptures daily, whether thofe things were so. |