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lickly to the congregation v, yet all forts of people are bound to read it apart by themselves w, and with their families x: to which

17. So then faith Cometh by hearing, and hearing by the ward 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 alfo 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 If rael. v. 11. When all Ifrael is come to appear before the Lord thy God, in the place which he fhal! choofe: thou shalt read this law before all Ifrael, in their hearing. v. 12. Gather the people together, men and women, and children, and thy ftranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and observe 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, whither ye go over to poffefs it. Neh. viii. 2. and Ezra the priest brought the law be fore 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 street 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 worfhipped the Lord their God. v. 4. Then flood up upon the stairs of the Levites, Jefhua, 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 bless the Lord your God for ever and ever; and blefled 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 thefe ftatutes, 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 ye have eternal life, and they are they which teftify of me Ifa. xxxiv. 16. Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read; no one of thefe fhall fail,

* 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 fittest in thine houfe, and when thou walkeft by the way, and when thou lieft down, and when thou rifeft up. v. 8. and thou shalt bind them for a fign upon thy hand, and they fhall be as frontlets between thine eyes. v. 9. and thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. Gen.

which end, the holy fcriptures are to be trandated out of the original into vulgar languages y.

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

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,-Pfal. lxxviii. 5. For he eftablished 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 should be born: who should 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. So likewife you, except ye utter by the tongue words eafy to be underftood, how fhall it be known what is fpoken for ye fhall fpeak into the air. v. 11. Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I fhall be unto him that speaketh a Barbarian, and he that fpeaketh fhall be a Barbarian unto me. V. 12. Even fo ye, forafmuch as ye are zealous of fpiritual gifts, feek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church, v. 15. What is it then? I will pray with the fpirit, and I will pray with the understanding alfo: I will fing with the fpirit, and will fing with

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the understanding also. v. 16 Elfe when thou shalt blefs with the fpirit, how fhall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned, fay, Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeft not what thou sayeft? v. 24. But if all prophefy, 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 fpeak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the moft 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 Pfal. xix. 10. More to be defired are they than gold; yea, than much fine gold; fweeter alfo than the honey, and the honeycomb. 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 those that could understand; 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 an fwered, Amen, amen, with lifting up their hands and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground,

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the very word of God a, and that he only can enable us to understand them b; with defire to know, believe and obey the will of God revealed in them c; with diligence d, and attention to the matter and scope of theme; with meditationƒ, application,

&c. to verse 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 obedieut. 2 Chron. xxxiv. 27. Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyfelf before God, when thou heardft his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledft thyfelf before me, and didit 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 fpirit, 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 not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God fpake as they were moved by the holy Ghost.

b Luke xxiv. 45. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the fcriptures. 2 Cor. iii. 13. and not as Mofes, who put a vail over his face, that the children of Ifrael could not fedfaftly look to the end of that which is abolished. v. 14. But their minds were blinded; for until this day remain eth the fame vail untaken away, in the reading of the Old Teftament :

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which vail is done away in Chrift. v. 15. But even unto this day, when Mofes is read, the vail is upon their heart, v. 16. Nevertheless, when it fhall return to the Lord the vail fhall be taken away.

c 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 thefe (latutes, to do them. That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not afide from the commandment, to the right hand or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days,

V. 20.

d Acts xvii. 11. These (Bereans) were more noble than those in Thef. falonica; in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and fearched the fcriptures daily, whether thefe things were fo.

e Acts viii. 30. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Efaias; and said, Underftandelt thou what thou readeft? v. 34. and the eunuch answered Philip, and faid, I pray thee, of whom fpeaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of fome other man? Luke x. 26. He faid unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? v. 27. and he answering, faid, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy foul, and with all thy ftrength, and with all thy mind: and thy neighbour as thyself. v. 28. and he faid unto him, Thou haft answered right: this do and thou shalt live.

Pfal. i. 2. But his delight is ia the

tion g felf-denial h, and prayer i.

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 k, and alfo duly approved and called to that

the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night, Pfal. cxix. 97. O how love I thy law? it is my meditation all the day.

g 2 Chron. xxxiv. 21. Go enquire of the Lord for me, and for them that are left in Ifrael, and in Judah concerning the words of the book that is found for great is the wrath of the Lord that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord, to do after all that is written in this book. h Prov. iii. 3. Truft in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding Deut. xxxii. 3. Yea, he loved the people: all his faints are in thy hand; and they fat down at thy feet, every one fhall receive of thy words.

Prov. ii. 1. My fon, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; v. 2. So that thou incline thine ear to wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding: v. 3. Yea, if thou crieft after knowledge, and lifteft up thy voice for understanding: v. 4. If thou feekeft her as filver, and fearcheft for her, as for hid treafures; v. 5. Then fhalt thou underftand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. v. 6. For the Lord giveth wifdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. Pfal. cxix. 18. Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. Neh. viii. 6. And Ezra bleffed the Lord the great God; and all the people answered, Amen, amen, with

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lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 8. So they read in the book, in the law of God distinctly,—

158. k 1 Tim. iii. 2. A bifhop then must be blameless, the hufband of one wife, vigilant, fober, of good behaviour, given to hofpitality, apt to teach: v. 6. Not a novice, left being lifted up with pride, he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Eph. iv. 8. Wherefore he faid, When he afcended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. V. 9. (Now that he afcended, what is it but that he alfo defcended first into the lower parts of the earth? v. 10. He that defcended, is the fame alfo that afcended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) v. 14. and he gave fome, apofties: and fome, prophets: and fome, evangelifts: and fome, pastors and teachers. Hof. iv. 6. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: becaufe thou haft rejected knowledge, I will alfo reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: feeing thou haft forgotten the law of thy God, I will alfo forget thy children. Mal. ii. 7. For the priests lips fhould keep knowledge, and they should feek the law at his mouth: for he is the mefferger of the Lord of hosts. 2 Cor. iii. 6. Who alfo hath made us able minifters of the New Teftament, not of the letter: but of the Spirit: for the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life.

1 Jer.

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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 ministry of the word, are to preach found doctrine m, diligently n, in feafon and out of feafon o; plainly p, not in the enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonftration of the Spirit, and of power q; faithfully r, making known the whole counfel of God; wifelyt, applying themselves to the neceffities and capacities of the

1 Jer. xiv. 15. Therefore thus faith the Lord concerning the prophets that prophecy in my name, and I fent them not,-Rom. x. 15. and how shall they preach, except they be fent? Heb. v. 4. and no man taketh this honour unto himfelf, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. 1 Cor. xii. 28. and God hath fet fome in the church, first apoftles, fecondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diverfities of tongues. v. 29. are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles! 1 Tim. iii. 10. and let thefe alfo, first be proved: then let them ufe the office of a deacon, being found blamele fs. Tim. iv. 14. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the prefbytery. 1 Tim. v. 22. Lay hands fuddenly on no man: neither be partaker of other men's fins, keep thyself pure.

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and being fervent in the fpirit, he fpake and taught diligently the things of the Lord,

2 Tim. iv. 2. Preach the word, be inftant in feafon, out of feafon; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-fuffering and doctrine.

PI Cor. xiv. 19. 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.

q 1 Cor. ii. 4. And my speech, and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wifdom, but in demonftration of the Spirit, and of power.

Jer. xxiii. 28. The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him fpeak my word faithfully; what is the chaff to the wheat? faith the Lord. 1 Cor. iv. 1. Let a man fo account of us, as of the minifters of Chrift, and stewards of the mysteries of God. v. 2. Moreover it is required in ftewards, that a man be found faithful.

Acts xx. 27. For I have not hunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God,

Col. i. 28. Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may prefent every man perfect in

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