156. Queft. Is the Word of God to be read by all? Anfw. Although all are not to be permitted to read the Word publickly to the Congregation, yet all Sorts of People are bound to read it apart by faith; v. 10. Night and day pray- 156. Deut. 31, 9. And Mofes wrote this law, and delivered it un them to the priests the fons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and unto all the elders of Ifrael. v. II. When all Ifrael is come to appear before the Lord thy God, in the place which he fhall choose: thou shalt read this law before all Ifrael, in their hearring. 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 obferve to do all the words of this law. v. 13. And that their children which 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. 8. 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 seventh month. v. 3. And he read therein before the ftreet that was before the water-gate, from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and thofe that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law. Neh. 9. 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 stairs of the Levites, Jefhua, and Bani, &c. and cried with a Z 3 loud themselves, and with their Families : to which End the holy Scriptures are to be tranflated out of the Original into Vulgar Languages ›. loud voice unto the Lord their God. v. s. Then the Levites, Jofhua, 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 praise. w Deut. 17. 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. 1. 3. Bleffed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. John 5. 39. Search the fcriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which teftify of me. Ifa. 34. 16. Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read: no one of these fhall fail, * Deut. 6. 6. And these words which I command thee this day, fhall be in thine heart: v. 7. And thou shalt 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 rifeft up. v. 8. And thou fhalt bind them for a fign upon thy hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. v. 9. And thou fhalt write them upon the pofts of thy house,and on thy gates. Gen. 18. 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 houshold after him, and they 157. Quest. fhall keep the way of the Lord, Pfalm 78. 5. For he eftablished a teftimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Ifrael, which he commanded our fathers, that they thould make them known to their children. v. 6. That the generations to come might know them, even the children which fhould be born: who should arife and declare them to their children: v. 7. That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments. y I Cor. 14. 6. Now, brethren, If I come unto you, speaking with tongues, what fhall I profit you, except I fhall fpeak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophefying, or by doctrine? v. 9. So likewise you, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be underftood, how fhall it be known what is spoken? for yeshall speak 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 speaketh shall be a Barbarian unto me. V. 12. Even fo ye, for as much 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 also: I will fing with the fpirit, and I will fing with the understanding alfo. v. 16. Elfe when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how fhall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned, fay, Amen at thy giving of thanks, feeing he underftandeth not what thou sayeft? V. 24. 157. Queft. How is the Word of God to be read? Anfw. The holy Scriptures are to be read with an high and reverent Efteem of them ; with a firm Perfwafion that they are the very Word of God, and that he only can enable us to understand them b; with Defire to know, believe and obey the Will of God . 24. But if all prophefie, 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 most by three,and that by course: 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. 2 Pfalm 19. 10. More to be defired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: fweeter alfo than the hony, and the hony-comb. Neh. 8. 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 underftand; and the ears of the people were attentive unto the book of the law. v. 4. And Ezra the scribe stood 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 ftood 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 worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground, c. to verse 10. Exod. 24. 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. 34. 27. Becaufe thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thy felf before God, when thou heardft his words againft this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thy felf before me, and didft rend thy clothes, and wept before me; I have even heard thee alfo, faith the Lord. 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. 1. 19. We have alfo a more fure word of prophecy; where'unto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise 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 spake as they were moved by the holy Ghoft. b Luke 24. 45. Then opened he their understanding,that they might understand the fcriptures. 2 Cor. 3. 13. And not as Mofes, which put avail over his face, that the children of Ifrael could not stedfaftly look to the end of that which is abolifhed. v. 14 But their minds were blinded; for until this day remaineth the fame vail untaken away, in the reading of the old teftament: Z 4 which God revealed in them; with Diligence d, aud Attention to the Matter and Scope of them ; with Meditation, Applications, Self-denial, and Prayer i ́which vail is done away in Christ. v. 15. But even unto this day, when Mofes is read, the vail is upon their heart, v. 16. Nevertheless when it fhall turn to the Lord, the vail fhall be taken away. c Deut, 17. 19. And it fhall be with him, and he shall 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 ftatutes, to do them: v. 20. That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right-hand or to the left to the end that he may prolong his days,-- d Acts 17.11. These (Bereans) were more noble than those in Theffalonica; in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and fearched the fcriptures daily whether these things were fo. 158. Queft. haft answered right: this do, and thou fhalt live. f Pfalm 1. 2. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night. Pfalm 119.97. O how love Ithy law! it is my meditation all the day. 82 Chron. 34. 21. Go, enquire of the Lord for me, and for them that are left in Israel, 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. 3. S. Truft in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. Deut. 33. 3. Yea, he loved the people; all his faints are in thy hand; and they fat down at thy feet, every one thall receive of thy words, • Acts 8.30. And Philip ran thi- Prov. 2. 1. My fon, if thou wilt ther to him, and heard him read receive my words,and hide my comthe prophet Efaias; and faid, Un- mandments with thee ; v. 2. So derftandeft thou what thou readeft that thou incline thine ear to wifv. 34. And the eunuch anfwered dom, and apply thine heart to unPhilip, and faid, I pray thee, of derstanding: v. 3. Yea, if thou whom fpeaketh the prophet this, cryeft after knowledge, and liftest of himself, or of fome other man? up thy voice for understanding: Luke 10. 26. He faid unto him, v. 4. If thou feekeft her as filver, What is written in the law how and fearcheft for her, as for hid readeft thou? v. 27. And he answer- treasures; v. 5. Then fhalt thou uning, faid, Thou shalt love the Lord derftand the fear of the Lord; and thy God with all thy heart, and find the knowledge of God. v. 6. with all thy foul, and with all thy For the Lord giveth wifdom: out ftrength, and with all thy mind; of his mouth cometh knowledge and and thy neighbour as thy felf. understanding. Pfalm 119. 18. Open 7.28. And he faid unto him, Thou thou mine eyes, that I may behold won 158. Qucft. By whom is the Word of God to be preached? Anfw. The Word of God is to be preached only by fuch as are fufficiently gifted *, and also duly approved and called to that Office! 159. Queft. How is the Word of God to be preached by thofe that are called thereunto? Anfw. They that are called to labour in the Mi nistry wondrous things out of thy law. dren. Mal. 2.7. For the priests lips Neh. 8.6. And Ezra bleffed the Lord the great God; and all the people anfwered, Amen, amen, with liftting 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 diftin&tly,-- 158. k 1 Tim. 3. 2. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband 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. 4.8. Wherefore he faith, 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 also defcended firft into the lower parts of the earth v. 1o. He that defcended, is the fame alfo that afcended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) v. 11. And he gave some, apostles: and fome, prophets: and fome, evangelifts: and fome, paftors and teachers.. Hof. 4, 6. My people are deftroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no prieft to me: feeing thou haft forgotten the law of thy God, I will alfo forget thy chil fhould keep knowledge, and they fhould feek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. 2 Cor. 3. 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. 14. 15. Therefore thus faith the Lord concerning the prophets that prophefie in my name, and I fent them not,--- Rom. 10. 15. And how fhall they preach, except they be fent --- Heb. 5.4. And no man taketh this honour unto himself,but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. 1 Cor. 12. 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 apoftles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 1 Tim. 3. 10. And let these also first be proved; then let them ufe the office of a deacon, being found blameless. 1 Tim. 4. 14. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. 1 Tim. 5.22. Lay hands fuddenly on no man; neither be partaker of other mens fins, keep thy felf pure. 159. m Titus |