Q1. What is meant by the word in this answer?

A. The whole of divine revelation, contained in the scriptures of the Old and New Testament.

Q2. What has God appointed with reference to his word, that it may be effectual to salvation?

A. He has appointed the reading, John 5:39; "but especially the preaching thereof," 2 Tim. 4:2.

Q3. "Is the word of God to be read by all?"

A. "Although all are not permitted to read the word publicly to the congregation, Deut. 31:9, 11, yet all sorts of people are bound to read it apart by themselves, chap. 17:19, and with their families, chap. 6:7."113

Q4. What is the meaning of these words in our Larger Catechism, "all are not permitted to read the word publicly to the congregation?"

A. The meaning is: not, as if there were an order of men appointed by Christ, to be READERS in the church, distinct from ministers; but only, that none ought to read publicly to the congregation, except those whose office it is, not only to read the word of God, but to explain it to the edification of others, Neh. 8:8 - "So they read in the book of the law of God distinctly, and gave the SENSE, and caused them (namely, the people) to understand the reading."

Q5. Why is the reading of the scriptures apart by ourselves necessary for every one?

A. Because the scriptures are a sword for defence, Eph. 6:17; a lamp for direction, Psalm 119:105; and food for nourishment, Jer. 15:16; in all which respects they are necessary for every Christian travelling Zion-ward, 2 Tim. 3:16, 17.

Q6. May not the reading of the scriptures in our families, supersede the reading of them apart by ourselves?

A. No; the doing of the one ought by no means to jostle out the other.

Q7. What is essentially requisite in order to capacitate the unlearned to read the scriptures?

A. That they be "translated out of the original into vulgar languages, 1 Cor. 14:11."114

Q8. How is the word of God to be read?

A. "The holy scriptures are to be read with a high and reverend esteem of them, Neh. 8:5; with a firm persuasion that they are the very word of God, 2 Pet. 1:21; and that he only can enable us to understand them, Luke 24:45."116

Q9. Why should we read the scriptures with a high and reverend esteem of 115them?

A. Because they are dictated by the Holy Ghost, and "are able to make us wise unto salvation," 2 Tim. 3:15.

Q10. Why should we read them with a firm persuasion that they are the very word of God?

A. Because without this we can never build our hope on them, as containing the words of eternal life, 1 Thess. 2:13.

Q11. Why should we read them with a persuasion that God only can enable us to understand them?

A. Because, without this, we cannot exercise a dependence upon him, for that spiritual and internal illumination, which is necessary to a saving and experimental knowledge of them, 1 Cor. 2:10.

Q12. "By whom is the word of God to be preached?"

A. "Only by such as are sufficiently gifted, Mal. 2:7, and also duly approved and called to that office, Rom. 10:15; 1 Tim. 4:14."116

Q13. Who are they that are sufficiently gifted?

A. They are such as are not only of a blameless moral walk, and "have a good report of them that are without," 1 Tim. 3:7; but likewise such as have a competent stock of human literature, Titus 1:9; and are, in the judgment of charity, reputed to be pious and religious men, 2 Tim. 1:5.

Q14. What is it to be duly approved and called to that office?

A. It is not only to be approved by the presbytery, who have the sole power of trying the ministerial qualifications, and of ordination to that office, 1 Tim. 4:14; but likewise to have the call and consent of the people, who are to be under the pastoral inspection and charge, Acts 1:23, and 14:23.

Q15. "How is the word of God to be preached by those that are called thereunto?"

A. They are to preach sound doctrine "diligently, plainly, faithfully, wisely, zealously, and sincerely."117

Q16. What are we to understand by sound doctrine?

A. The whole system of divine truth, contained in the holy scriptures, or evidently deducible from it; particularly whatever has the greatest tendency to depreciate self, and to exalt Christ, who ought to be the main and leading subject of all gospelpreaching, 2 Cor. 4:5.

Q17. What is it to preach sound doctrine diligently?

A. It is to be instant "in season, and out of season," 2 Tim. 4:2118 embracing every opportunity of doing good to souls; and watching for them, "as they that must give account," Heb. 13:17.

Q18. What is it to preach plainly?

A. It is to essay it, "not in enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit, and of power," 1 Cor. 2:4.119

Q19. What is it to preach the word faithfully?

A. It is a "making known the whole counsel of God," (or at least a not shunning to do so), Acts 20:27.120

Q20. When may ministers be said to preach wisely?

A. When in studying, or preaching, they are wholly taken up in applying themselves to the necessities and capacities of the hearers,"121 Luke 12:42; 1 Cor. 3:2.

Q21. When do they preach the word zealously?

A. When they do it "with fervent love to God, and the souls of his people,"122 2 Cor. 5:14, and 12:15.

Q22. How is the word preached sincerely?

A. When there is an "aiming at God's glory," and his people's "conversion, edification, and salvation, 1 Thess. 2:4; 1 Cor. 9:22; 1 Tim. 4:16."123

Q23. Who is it that makes the reading and preaching of the word effectual to salvation?

A. (THE SPIRIT OF GOD), 1 Cor. 2:11 - "The things of God knoweth no man, but the SPIRIT of God."

Q24. How does he make them effectual?

A. By accompanying them with his divine power upon the soul, Rom. 1:16.

Q25. Of what is it that the Spirit of God makes the reading and preaching of the word an effectual means?

A. He makes them an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, and of building them up in holiness and comfort, through faith, unto Salvation.

Q26. Does the Spirit make more frequent and ordinary use of the reading, or of the preaching of the word, for these valuable ends?

A. He makes more frequent and ordinary use of the preaching of the word; and therefore there is an ESPECIALLY prefixed to it in the answer.

Q27. How do you prove, that the preaching of the word is honoured as the most ordinary means?

A. From express scripture testimony to this purpose, Acts 4:4 - "Many of them which heard the word believed;" chap. 11:20, 21 - "And some of them - spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord."124

Q28. May not people be more edified in reading good sermons at home, than in hearing from the pulpit, such as are not perhaps, so well digested?

A. If they are in health, and not necessarily detained from the public ordinances, they have no ground to expect any real and saving benefit to their souls in the neglect of hearing the word preached: because it pleases "God, by the foolishness of preaching, to save them that believe," 1 Cor. 1:21; and "faith cometh by HEARING," Rom. 10:17.

Q29. What use does the Spirit make of the reading, but especially of the preaching of the word, with reference to sinners in a natural state?

A. He makes use of them as an effectual means of convincing and converting them, 1 Cor. 14:24; Acts 26:18.

Q30. What does the Spirit convince sinners of by the word?

A. Of their sin and misery.125

Q31. Is it by the word of the law, or the word of the gospel, that the Spirit convinces of sin?

A. It is ordinarily by the word of the law, Rom. 3:20 - "By the LAW is the knowledge of sin."

Q32. What of sin does the Spirit convince sinners by the law?

A. Both of the nature and desert of sin.

Q33. In what consists the nature of sin?

A. In the want of conformity to, and transgression of, the law of God.126

Q34. What is the desert of sin?

A. The wrath and curse of God, both in this life and that which is to come.127

Q35. How does the Spirit convince men effectually, by the word, that they are sinners?

A. By convincing them, from it, that they are unbelievers, John 16:8, 9 - "He the Spirit will reprove or convince the world of sin, because they believe not on me," says our Lord.

Q36. What influence has a conviction of unbelief, upon convincing a person that he is indeed a sinner?

A. Were a person once convinced, that unbelief is a rejection of the only method of salvation, devised in infinite wisdom, or treating of God's unspeakable gift offered in the word, with the utmost contempt, he could not but conclude himself, on this account, to be the greatest of sinners, and that he deserved the severest of punishments, Heb. 10:29.

Q37. How does the Spirit make the word an effectual means of converting sinners?

A. By making use of it "to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God," Acts 26:18.

Q38. Do all convictions of sin issue in conversion?

A. Far from it: many may be very deeply convinced of sin by the law, and yet never have a thorough change wrought upon their hearts; as in the instances of Cain, Judas, and others.

Q39. What is conversion?

A. It is the spiritual motion of the whole man toward God in Christ, as the immediate effect of the real and supernatural change, that is wrought in regeneration, Jer. 3:22.

Q40. Is there any difference between conversion and regeneration?

A. They are as inseparably conjoined, as the effect is to its cause. Regeneration, or the formation of the new creature (in which we are wholly passive), is the cause; and conversion, or the motion of the soul to God, is the effect, which infallibly follows, Hos. 6:2.

Q41. Cannot man be the author of his own regeneration?

A. No; he can neither prepare himself for it, nor co-operate with God in it.

Q42. Why can he not prepare himself for it?

A. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God, and remains so until regenerating grace take place in the soul, Rom. 8:7, 8.

Q43. Why cannot man co-operate with God in this work?

A. Because there can be no acting, without a principle of action. Regeneration, being the infusing of spiritual life into the soul, it is impossible the creature can cooperate or concur with God in it, any more than Lazarus in the grave could concur in his own resurrection, till the powerful voice of Christ infused life and strength into him.

Q44. What would be the consequence if man could co-operate with God in regeneration?

A. The consequence would be, that God would not be so much the author of grace, as he is of nature; nor have such a revenue of glory from the one, as from the other.

Q45. How are regeneration and conversion denominated in scripture, to prove that God alone can be the author of them?

A. They are called a "creation," Eph. 2:10, and a "resurrection," chap. 5:14.

Q46. Why called a creation?

A. Because there is nothing in the heart of man, out of which the new creature can be formed; "every imagination of the thoughts of his heart" being "only evil continually," Gen. 6:5.

Q47. Why called a resurrection?

A. Because it is God only "who quickeneth the dead, and calleth things which be not, as though they were," Rom. 4:17.

Q48. What influence has the word upon the conversion of sinners?

A. It has no physical or natural influence of itself, but only as it is an instituted means, in the hand of the Spirit of God to that end, John 6:63.

Q49. What is the efficacy of the word, in the work of conversion, compared to in scripture?

A. It is compared to a fire, to a hammer, Jer. 23:29; to rain, Deut. 32:2; and to light, Psalm 119:105.

Q50. Why compared to fire?

A. Because as fire purifies the metal, separating the dross; so the word, in the hand of the Spirit, purifies the heart, purging away the dross of sin and corruption that is there, Isaiah 4:4.

Q51. Why compared to a hammer?

A. As a hammer "breaketh the rock in pieces," Jer. 23:29, and thus fits it for the building, so the Spirit of God, by the word, breaks the hard heart of man, and fits it for being built on the foundation God has laid in Zion, Proverbs 16:1.

Q52. Why compared to rain?

A. Because as the rain falls irresistibly, so there is no withstanding the efficacy of the word in the hand of the Spirit, Isaiah 55:11.

Q53. Why compared to light?

A. Because as light discovers things that were indiscernible in the dark; so the Spirit, by the word, discovers the latent wickedness of the heart, 1 Cor. 14:25, and the matchless glory and excellency of Christ, as IMMANUEL, "God with us," John 16:14.

Q54. What use does the Spirit make of the reading, but especially the preaching of the word, with reference to SAINTS, who are brought into a state of grace?

A. He makes use of it as an effectual means of building them up in holiness and comfort, through faith unto salvation, Acts 20:32; Rom. 15:4.

Q55. Is holiness necessary in order to our justification before God?

A. It is necessary in the justified, but not in order to their justification; because this would found their justification upon works, contrary to Rom. 3:20 - "By the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight."128

Q56. Is it necessary as the ground of our title to heaven?

A. It is necessary to clear our title; but our title itself can be founded only in our union with Christ, and the imputation of his righteousness, 1 Cor. 3:22, 23 - "All are yours, and ye are Christ's "compared with Rom. 8:30 - "Whom he justified, them he also glorified."

Q57. Why are the saints said to be built up in holiness?

A. Because the work of sanctification, like a building, is gradually carried on towards perfection until death, Proverbs 4:18.

Q58. How does the Spirit make the reading and preaching of the word, an effectual means of building up the saints in holiness?

A. By giving them, in the glass of the word, such clear and repeated discoveries of the glory of Christ, as to transform them more and more into the same image with him, 2 Cor. 3:18.

Q59. How does he, by means of these ordinances, build them up in comfort?

A. By conveying with power to their souls, the great and precious promises, which contain all the grounds of real and lasting comfort, Gal. 3:29, and 4:28.

Q60. Through what instrument is it, that the Spirit makes these means effectual, for building up the saints in holiness and comfort?

A. It is through faith, 1 Thess. 2:13.

Q61. What instrumentality has faith, in the hand of the Spirit, for building up the saints, in holiness and comfort?

A. It rests upon God's faithful word for the promotion of both, Psalm 138:8 - "The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me."

Q62. To what end does the Spirit, by means of the word, build them up in holiness, and comfort through faith?

A. It is unto their complete and eternal salvation, Rom. 1:16.

Q63. What may we learn from the Spirit's making the means effectual to salvation?

A. That as no special blessing can be expected from God, in the wilful neglect of the ordinances, Proverbs 28:9; so we may sit all our days under a pure dispensation of the gospel, without reaping any spiritual profit, unless divine supernatural agency concur, 1 Cor. 3:6.

Q1. What mean you by the word?

A. By the word is meant the word of God, consigned to writing in the books of the Old and New Testament; which though it be ministered by men, yet is no other than the very word of God, and as such to be received; 1 Thessalonians 2:13. For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God, which you heard of us, you received it not as the word of men; but (as it is in truth) the word of God, etc.

Q2. Whence is the efficacy of this word?

A. It is wholly from the Spirit of God that it becomes effectual to any man's salvation; 1 Corinthians 3:6, 7. I have planted, and Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then, neither is he who plants anything, neither he who waters; but God that gives the increase.

Q3. Is the reading of the scripture an ordinance of God for men's salvation?

A. Yes, it is; Deuteronomy 17:19. And it shall be with him, and he shall feed 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. And in reading of it, God sometimes comes in by his Spirit to men's conversion; Acts 8:27, 28, 29. And he arose and went, and behold a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, was returning, and sitting in his chariot, read Isaias the prophet. Then the Spirit said to Philip, Go near, and join yourself to this chariot, etc.

Q4. Is the hearing of the word a means of salvation?

A. Yes, it is; Isaiah 55:3. Incline your ear, and come unto me; hear, and your soul shall live, etc. 1 Corinthians 1:21. It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching, to save them that believe.

Q5. To what end is the word useful to men?

A. The first end and use of the word is to convince men of their sin and misery out of Christ; 1 Corinthians 14:24, 25. But if all prophesy, and there come in one who believes not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all. And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest, etc.

Q6. What is it useful for, besides conviction?

A. It is useful for conversion, as well as conviction; Psalm 19:7. The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul, etc. Acts 26:18. To turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, etc.

Q7. Does the word convince and convert all that hear it?

A. No, but those only that are ordained to eternal life; Acts 13:48. As many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

Q8. What else is the word useful for?

A. To build up the saints to perfection in Christ; Ephesians 4:11, 12, 13. And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; until we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man; unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Acts 20:32. 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 sanctified.

Q9. May the common people read the scriptures?

A. Yes, it is a duty commanded by Christ; John 5:39. Search the scriptures, etc. And commended by the apostle; Acts 17:11. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Q10. Is it their duty or liberty also to preach it?

A. No, it is not; for besides abilities for that work, there must be a call; Romans 10:14, 15. How shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach, except they be sent, etc.

Q11. What is the first instruction from hence?

A. That the enjoyments of the scriptures, and an able, faithful ministry to expound and apply them, is a special mercy to any people; Psalm 147:19, 20. He shows his word unto Jacob, his statutes and judgments unto Israel; he has not dealt so with any nation; and as for his judgments they have not known them.

Q12. What is the second instruction?

A. That men cannot expect special and spiritual blessings from God in the willful neglect of the ordinances; Proverbs 28:9. He who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

Q13. What is the third inference?

A. That sad is their condition, who sit all their days under the word to no purpose at all; 2 Corinthians 4:3, 4. If our gospel be hid, it is hidden to them that are lost: in whom the God of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine into them.

Q14. What is the last inference?

A. That Christ's ordinances and ministers should be most welcome to the people to whom God sends them; Isaiah 52:7. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that brings good tidings, that publishes peace, that publishes salvation, that says unto Zion, Your God reigns. Of the Manner of Hearing

Q1. Is the Word to be read by us?

A. Yes: I charge you that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren, 1 Thess. 5:27.

Q2. Is it to be read in solemn assemblies?

A. Yes: Moses is read in the synagogues every sabbath day, Acts 15:21.

Q3. Is it profitable to expound the Scriptures?

A. Yes: They that read in the law of God, gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading, Neh. 8:8.

Q4. Is the Word of God to be preached?

A. Yes: Preach the word, be instant in season, and out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort, 2 Tim. 4:2.

Q5. Is it the duty of all to hear the word?

A. Yes: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches, Rev. 2:7.

Q6. Will the bare reading and hearing of the Word profit?

A. No: The letter kills, the Spirit gives life, 2 Cor. 3:6.

Q7. But is the reading and hearing of the Word the ordinary means of convincing sinners?

A. Yes: For it is mighty through God, to the pulling down of strong holds, 2 Cor. 10:4.

Q8. And of startling the secure?

A. Yes: By them is thy servant warned, Ps. 19:11.

Q9. Is it the ordinary means of conversion?

A. Yes: If the prophets had stood in my counsel, they should have turned people from their evil way, Jer. 13:22.

Q10. And has it been the conversion of many?

A. Yes: When the law of truth was in his mouth, he did turn many away from iniquity, Mal. 2:6.

Q11. Is it the ordinary means of working faith?

A. Yes: For faith comes by hearing, Rom. 10:17.

Q12. And of renewing of the heart?

A. Yes: For the seed is the Word of God, Luke 8:11.

Q13. And of reforming the life?

A. Yes: By the words of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer, Ps. 17:4.

Q14. Is the reading and hearing of the word needful to those who are regenerate?

A. Yes: For they are nourished up in the words of faith, and of good doctrine, 1 Tim. 4:6.

Q15. Is it a means of building them up in holiness?

A. Yes: It is for the perfecting of the saints, Eph. 4:12.

Q16. Will it furnish them for all good?

A. Yes: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished to all good works, 2 Tim. 3:17.

Q17. Will it fortify them against all evil?

A. Yes: For the sword of the Spirit is the Word of God, Eph. 6:17.

Q18. Is it a means of building them up in comfort?

A. Yes: That we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope, Rom. 15:4.

Q19. Does the Spirit of God make the word effectual for all these good purposes?

A. Yes: When the hand of the Lord was with them, a great number believed, and turned to the Lord, Acts 11:21.

Q20. Is it effectual through faith unto salvation?

A. Yes: It is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes, Rom. 1:16.

Q21. Is it not a great mercy then to have plenty of the Word of God?

A. Yes: Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound, Ps. 89:15.

Q22. And should we not welcome those that bring it?

A. Yes: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord, Ps. 118:26.