A. Yes, it is, Ifa. lv. 3. Incline your Ear, and come unte me; hear, and your Soul fall live, &c. 1 Cor. i. 21. It pleafed God by the Foolishness of Preaching to fave them that believe?

Q. 5. To what End is the Word useful to Men?

A. The first End and Ufe of the Word is to convince Men of their Sin and Mifery out of Chrilt, 1 Cor. xiv. 24, 25. But if all Prophesy, and there come in one that believeih not, or one unlearned: he is convinced of all, he is judged of all. And thus are the Secrets of his Heart made manifeft, &c.

Q. 6. What is it useful for befides Conviction?

A. 'Tis ufeful for Converfion, as well as Conviction, Pfal. xix. 7. The Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the Soul, &c. Ácts 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 those only that are ordained to eternal Life, Acts xiii. 48. As many as were ordained to eternal Life be

lieved.

Q. 8. What elfe is the Word ufeful for?"

A. To build up the Saints to Perfection in Chrift, Eph. iv. 11, 12, 13. And he gave fome Apoffles, and Jome Prophets, and fome Evangélifts, and Jome Paftors and Teachers; for the perfecting of the Saints, for the Work of the Miniftry, for the edifying of the Body of Chrift: Till we all come in the Unity of the Faith, and of the Knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfet Man; unto the Measure of the Stature of the Fulness of Chrift, A&s xx. 32. And now Brethren, I commend 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 fanctified.

Q. 9. May the common People read the Scriptures?

A. Yes, it is a Duty commanded by Chrift, Joh. v. 39. Search the Scriptures, &c. and commended by the Apolle, Acts xvii. 11. These were more noble than thofe in Theffalonica, in that they received the Word with all Readiness of Mind, and jearched the Scriptures daily, whether thofe Things were Jo.

Q. 10. Is it their Duty or Liberty alfo to preach it? A. No, it is not, for befides Abilities for that Work, there mult be a Call, Rom. x. 14, 15.-How shall they hear without

without a Preacher, and how shall they preach except they be fent? &c.

Q. 11. What is the firft Inftruction from hence?

A. That the Enjoyments of the Scripture, and an able faithful Miniftry to expound and apply them, is a fpecial Mercy to any People, Pfal. cxlvii. 19, 20. He fhewith his Word unto Jacob, his Statutes and Judgments unto Ifrael, he bath not dealt fo with any Nation, and as for his Judgments they have not known them.

Q. 12. What is the fecond Inftruction?

A. That Men cannot expect Special and Spiritual Bleffings from God in the wilful Neglect of the Ordinances, Prov. xxviii. 9. He that turneth away his Ear from bearing the Law, even his Prayer shall be Abomination.

Q. 13. What is the third Inference ?

A. That fad is their Condition, who fit all their Days under the Word to no Purpofe at all, 2 Cor. iv. 3, 4. If our Gofpel be bid, it is hid to them that are loft: In whom the God of this World hath linded the Minds of them which believe not, left the Light of the glorious Gospel of Chrift, who is the Image of God, fhould fine into them.

Q. 14. What is the laft Inference?

A. That Chrift's Ordinances and Minifters fhould be most welcome to the People to whom God fends them, Ifa. lii. 7. How beautiful upon the Mountains are the Feet of him that bringeth good Tidings, that publisheth Peace, that publisheth Salvation, that faith unto Zion, thy God reigneth.

Of the Manner of Hearing.

Queft. 90. H

OW is the Word to be read and heard, that it may become effectual to Salvation? A. That the Word may become effectual to Salvation, we must attend thereto with Diligence, Preparation and Prayer, receive it with Faith and Love, lay it up in our Hearts, and practise it in our Lives.

Q. 1. If the Matter we read or hear be good, is not that enough for Salvation?

A. No, God requires that the Word be read and heard in a due Manner, and the Manner of hearing is of fpecial Re

M 3

gard

gard with God, Luke viii. 18. Take heed therefore how ye bear, &c.

Q. 2. How many Things belong to the due Manner of Hearing?

A. Three Sorts of Duties belong to it; fome antecedent, as, Preparation and Prayer; fome concomitant, as due Diligence and Retention; and fome fubfequent, as practise.

Q3. What is due Preparation for hearing?

A. It confifts in ferious Confideration of the greatness and Holiness of that God, whom we approach in Hearing the Word, A&ts x. 33.-Now therefore we are all here prefent before God, to bear all Things that are commanded thee of God. And awing the Heart even to a Degree of holy trembling thereby, Iía. lxvi. 2.—To him will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite Spirit, and trembleth at my Word.

Q4. What is the principal Confideration thus to awe the Heart?

A. The Word is in its own Nature an Heart-fearching Word. Heb. iv. 12. For the Word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged Sword, piercing even to the dividing ajunder of Soul and Spirit, and of the Joints and Marrow, and is a Difcerner of the Thoughts and Intents of the Heart. And that eventually it will be the Savour of Life or Death to us, z 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 elfe belongs to due Preparation to hear?

A. The difcharging of the Heart from worldly Cares, Matth. xiii. 7. And fome fell among Thorns, and the Thorns Sprang up and chqaked them. And carnal Lufts, Jam. i. 21. Wherefore lay apart, all Filthiness and Superfluity of Naughtinefs, and receive with Meekness the engrafted Word, which is able to fave your Souls.

Q6. What is the third Act of due Preparation?

A. Longing after the Word for further Communications of Grace by it, 1 Pet. ii. 2. As new Born Babes defire the fincere Milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby, Ifa. ii. 3. And many People shall go and fay, come ye, and let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord, to the Houfe of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us of his Ways, and we will walk in his Paths:

Paths: for out of Zion fhall go forth the Law, and the Word of the Lord from Jerufalem.

Q. 7. What is the fecond Antecedent Duty of Hearing?

A. Prayer is an antecedent Duty to hearing the Word, and that both for the Affiftance of the Minitter, 2 Theff. iii. 1. Finally, Brethren, pray for us, that the Word of the Lord may bave free Courfe, and be glorified, even as it is with you: And our own Illumination, Pfal. cxix. 18. Open thou mine Eyes, that I may bebold wondrous Things out of thy Law.

Q. 8. What elfe fhould we pray for?

my

A. That God would pour out his Spirit with the Word according to that Promife, Prov. i. 23.—I will pour out Spirit unto you, I will make known my Words unto you. Q. 9. Doth unpreparedness for the Word always hinder its Efficacy on the Heart?

A. No, God fometimes is found of them that fought him not, Ifa. lxv. 1.I was found of them that fought me not, &c. But it is a Sin to neglect it, and needs a Pardon of God.

Q 10. What is the firft Motive to prepare for folemn Duties?

A. That it argues the Sincerity of the Heart, and in that Cafe God will be merciful to Infirmities, 2 Chron. xxx. 18, 19. For a Multitude of the People, even a Multitude of Ephraim and Manaffeth, Ifachar and Zebulun had not cleanfed themfelves, yet did eat the Passover, but not as it is written: Wherefore Hezekiah prayed for them, faying, the good Lord be merciful towards him, that prepareth his whole Heart to feek the Lord God, the God of his Fathers, though he be not cleanfed according to the Purification of the Sanctuary.

Q. 11. What is the fecond Motive ?

A. It is a fweet Sign that God will make that Duty fuccessful for which the Heart is prepared, Pfal. x. 17.-Thou prepareft their Heart: Thou bendeft thine Ear to them.

Q. 12. What is the third Motive to Preparation ?

A. The Majefty and Jealoufy of God, to whom we approach, cbliges us to folemn Preparation, Heb. xii. 28, 29. -Whereby we may ferve God acceptably, with Reverence and godly Fear; for our God is a confuming Fire.

Q. 13. But muft a Man neglect the Duty if his Heart be not duly prepared for it?

A. No,

A. No, f rabat would be to add a new Sin to a former, and aggravate t the more.

Q: 14. In what Manner muft the prepared Heart go to the Word?

A. Not in Deper dence on its own Preparations, but upon the Spirit's Affiftance, Pfal. lxxi. 16. I will go forward in the Strength of the Lord God, &c.

Q. 15. What is the first Act of Faith due to the Word? A. The affenting Act of Faith is required to the Word read or preached, whereby we acknowledge it to be cf Divine Authority, 2 Tim. iii. 16. All Scripture is given by Infpiration of God, and is profitable for Doctrine, for Reproof, for Correction, for Inftruction in Righteousness: 2 Pet. i. 21. For the Prophey came not in old Time by the Will of Man: but holy Men of God fpake as they were moved by the Holy Ghoft.

Q16. What is the fecond Act of Faith required of us? A. An applying Act of Faith is also required of us, Rom. xv. 4. For whatfoever Things were written afore-time, were written for our learning, that we through Patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have Hope.

Q17. What is the firft End in applying the Word?

A. It is first to be applied to our Conviction both of Sin and Mifery, Acts ii. 37. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their Heart, and faid unto Peter, and to the reft of the Apostles, Men and Brethren, what shall we do?

Q. 18. What is the fecond End, or Ufe of applying it? A. It must be applied for our Guidance and Direction to Christ, John vi. 45. Every Man therefore that bath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

Q. 19. What is the third Ufe to which it must be applied? A. We must apply it for our Direction through the whole Courfe of Chriftian Duties, 2 Pet. i. 19. We have also a more fure Word of Prophely; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a Light that shineth in a dark Place, until the Day dawn, and the Day far arife in your Hearts.

Q. 20 What other Ufe muft we apply it to?

A. It must be applied for our Comfort in all inward and outward Troubles, Rom.. xv. 4. For whatsoever Things were written afore-time, were written for our Learning, that we

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