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A. The outward and ordinary means, whereby Chrift com municates to his church the benefits of his mediation, are all his ordinances; efpecially the word, facraments, and prayer: all which are made effectual to the elect for their falvation /. Q.155. How is the word made effectual to falvation? A. The Spirit of God maketh the reading, but especially the preaching of the word, an effectual means of enlightning m, convincing and humbling finners n; of driving them out of themselves, and drawing them unto Chrifto; of conforming them

findeth life, and fhall obtain favour of the Lord. v. 36. But he that finneth against me, wrongeth his own foul; all they that hate me, love death.

among them which are fanctified by faith that is in me. Pfa, xix. 8.The commandment of the Lord'is pure, enlightning the eyes.

n1 Cor. xiv. 21. Butifall prophefy, 154. 1. Mat. xxviii. 19. Go ye and there come in one that believeth therefore, and teach all nations, not, or one unlearned, he is convinbaptizing them in the name of the ced of all, he is judged of all: v. 25. Father, and of the Son, and of the And thus are the fecrets of his heart Holy Ghoft; v. 20. Teaching them made manifeft: and fo falling down to obferve all things whatsoever I on his face, he will worship God, have commanded you; and lo, I am and report that God is in you of a with you alway, even unto the end truth. 2 Chron. xxxiv. 18. Then of the world. Acts ii. 42. And they Shaphan the fcribe told the king, continued ftedfaftly in the apoftlés faying, Hilkiah the priest hath givdoctrine and fellowship, and in break- en me a book. And Shaphan read it ing of bread, and in prayers. v. 46. before the king. v. 19. And it came And they continuing daily with one to pass, when the king had heard accord in the temple, and breaking the words of the law, that he rent his bread from houfe to houfe, did eat clothes. v. 26. And as for the king their meat with gladnefs and fingle- of Judah, who fent you to enquire nefs of heart, v. 47. Praising God, of the Lord, fo fhall ye fay unto and having favour with all the peo- him, Thus faith the Lord God of ple. And the Lord added to the Ifrael, concerning the words which church daily fuch as should be fav- thou haft heard; v. 27. Because thine heart was tender, and thou didft humble thyself before God, when thou heardit his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledft thyfelf before me, and didft rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee alfo, faith the Lord. v. 28. Behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be ga

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155. m Neh. viii. 8. So they read in the book, in the law of God diftinctly, and gave the fenfe, and caufed them to understand the reading. Acts. xxvi. 18. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of fins, and inheritance

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them to his imagep, and fubduing them to his willq; of strengthening them against temptations and corruptions r; of building them up in grace, and establishing their hearts in

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Actsii. 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 fhall we do? v. 41. Then they that gladly received his words, were baptized: and the fame day there were added unto them about three thoufand fouls. Acts viii. from verfe 27. to 39.-And behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority,―v. 28. Was returning, and fitting in his chariot, read Efaias the prophet. v. 29. Then the Spirit faid unto Philip, Go near and join thyfelf to this chariot. v. 30. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Efaias, and faid, Underftandeft thou what thou readeft?-v. 35. Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the fame fcripture, and preached unto him Jefus. v. 36. -And the eunuch faid, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? v. 37. And Philip faid, If thou believeft with all thine heart, thou mayeft. And he answered and faid, I believe that Jefus Chrift is the Son of God. v. 38.And they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

p 2 Cor. iii. 18. But we all with open face, beholding as in a glafs the glory of the Lord, are changed into the fame image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

42 Cor. x. 4. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling

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down of strong holds. v. 5. Cafting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself againft the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Chrift; v. 6. and having in a readinefs to revenge all difobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. Rom, vi. 17. But God be thanked that ye were the fervants of fin; but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

r Mat. iv. 4. But he answered and faid, It is written, Man fhall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. v. 7. Jefus faid unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. v. 10. Then faith Jefus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan; for it is written, Thou fhalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only fhalt thou ferve. Eph. vi. 16. Above all, taking the fhield of faith, wherewith ye fhall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. v. 17. And take the helmet of falvation, and the fword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pfal. xix. 11. Moreover, by them is thy fervant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. 1 Cor. x. 11. Now all these things happened unto them for enfamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are

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holinefs and comfort through faith unto falvation f.

Q. 156. Is the word of God to be read by all?

A. Altho' all are not to be permitted to read the word publickly to the congregation v, yet all forts of people are bound

heritance among all them who are fantified. 2 Tim. iii. 15. And that from a child thou haft known the holy fcriptures, which are able to make thee wife unto falvation, thro' faith which is in Christ Jesus. v. 16. All fcripture is given by infpiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for inftruction in righteoufnefs: v. 17. That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnithed unto all good works.

# Rom. xvi. 25. Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jefus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept fecret fince the world began. i Theff. iii. 2. And fent Timotheus our brother and minifter of God, and our fellow labourer in the gofpel of Chrift, to eftablish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith; v. 10. night and day praying exceedingly, that we might ice your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith. v. 11. Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jefus Chrift direct our way unto you. v. 13. To the end He may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jefus Chrift with all his faints. Rom. xv. 4. For whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning; that we through patience and comfort of the fcriptures might have hope. Rom. x. 13. For whofoever fhall call upon the name of the Lord,

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fhall be faved. v. 14. How then fhall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how fhall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? v. 15. And how fhail they preach, except they be fent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! v. 16. But they have not all obeyed the gofpel. For Efaias faith, Lord, who hath believed our report? v. 17. So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Rom. i. 16. For I am not afhamed of the gospel of Chrift, for it is the power of God unto falvation, to every one that believeth, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek,

156. v Deut. xxxi. 9. And Mofes wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the fons of Levi, who bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and unto all the elders of Ifrael. v. 11. When all Ifrael is come to appear before the Lord thy God, in the place which he fhall choofe; thou fhalt read this law before all Ifrael, in their hearing. v. 12. Gather the people together, men and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and obferve to do all the words of this law: v. 13. And that their children who have not known any thing, may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as ye live in the land, whi

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to read it apart by themselves w, and with their families x: to which end, the holy fcriptures are to be tranflated out of the original into vulgar languagesy.

ther ye go over to poffefs it. Neh. viii. 2. And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation, both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the feventh month. v. 3. And he read therein before the ftreet that was before the water-gate, from the morning until mid-day, before the men and the women, and those that could understand: and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law. Neh. ix. 3. And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the Lord their God, one fourth part of the day, and another fourth part they confeffed, and worshipped the Lord their God. v. 4. Then ftood up upon the ftairs of the Levites, Jefhúa, and Bani, &c. and cried with a loud voice unto the Lord their God. v. 5. Then the Levites, Jefhua, and Kadmiel, &c. faid, Stand up, and blefs the Lord your God for ever and ever; and bleffed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all bleffing and praife.

w Deut. xvii. 19. And it fhall be with him, and he fhall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this law, and these statutes, to do them. Rev. i. 3. Bleffed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep thofe things which are written therein; for the time is at hand. John v. 39. Search the fcriptures, for in them ye think Fe have eternal life, and they are

Q.157.

they which teftify of me. Ifa. xxxiv 16. Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read; no one of thefe shall fail,

x Deut. vi. 6. And these words which I command thee this day, fhall be in thine heart: v. 7. And thou fhalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and fhalt talk of them when thou fitteft in thine houfe, and when thou walkeft by the way, and when thou lieft down, and when thou rifest up. v. 8. And thou fhalt bind them for a fign upon thy hand, and they fhall be as frontlets between thine eyes. v. 9. And thou fhalt write them upon the pofts of thy house, and on thy gates. Gen. xviii. 17. And the Lord faid, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do? v. 19. For I know him, that he will command his children and his houfhold after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord,- -Pfa. lxxviii. 5. For he eftablifhed a teftimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Ifrael, which he commanded our fathers, that they fhould make them known to their children. v. 6. That the generations to come might know them, even' the children who fhould be born: who fhould arife and declare them to their children: v. 7. That they might fet their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments.

y 1 Cor. xiv. 6. Now, brethren, if I come unto you, fpeaking with tongues, what fhall I profit you, except I fhall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophefying, or by doctrine? v. 9.

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 z; with a firm perfuafion that they are the very word of God a, and that he only can enable us

So likewife you, except ye utter by the tongue words eafy to be underfood, how fhall it be known what is fpoken? for ye thall fpeak into the air. v. 11. Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I fhall be unto him that ipeaketh a Barbarin, and he that fpeaketh fhall be a Barbarian unto me. v. 12. Even fo ye, fora much as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, feek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. v. 15. What is it then I will pray with the ipirit, and I will pray with the undertanding alfo: I will fing with the fpirit, and I will fing with the understanding alto. v. 16. Elfe when thou shalt blefs with the fpirit, how thall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned, fay, Amen at thy giving of thanks, feeing he he understandethnot what thou fayeft? v. 24. But if all prophety, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all. v. 27. If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the molt by three, and that by courfe; and let one interpret. v. 28. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep filence in the church; and let him fpeak to himself, and to God.

157. z Pfa.xix. 10. More to be defired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; fweeter alfo than the honey, and the honey comb. Neh. viii. 3. And he, read therein before the street that was before the water-gate, from the morning until mid-day before the men and the women, and thofe that could un

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derftand; and the ears of the people were attentive unto the book of the law. v. 4. And Ezra the scribe ftood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose,v. 5. And Ezra opened the book in the fight of all the people (for he was above all the people) and when he opened it, all the people stood up, v. 6. And Ezra bleffed the Lord the great God, and all the people anfwered, Amen, amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worthipped the Lord with their faces to the ground, &c. to verfe 10. Exod. xxiv. 7. And he (Mofes) took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they faid, All that the Lord hath faid, will we do, and be obedient. 2 Chron. xxxiv. 27. Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyfelf before God, when thou heardit his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledft thyfelf before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee alfo, faith the Lord. Ifa. lxvi. 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. 19. We have also a more fure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that fhineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-ftar arife in your hearts: v. 20. Knowing this firft, that no prophecy of the fcripture is of any private interpretation. v. 21. For the prophecy came

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