law 4, deserveth his wrath and curse , both in this life f, and that which is to come %; and cannot be expiated but by the blood of Christ). Q. 153. What doth God require of us, that we may escape his wrath and curse due to us by reason of the transgression of the law ? A. That we may escape the wrath and curse of God due to us by reason of the transgression of the law, he requireth of us repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ', and the diligent use of the outward means whereby not ence. out spot. di John iii. 4. Whosoever com- h Heb. ix. 22. And almost all mitteth sin, transgresseth also the things are by the law purged with law : for sin is the transgression of the blood; and without shedding of law. Rom. vii. 12. Wherefore the blood is no remission. 1 Pet. i. 18. law is holy, and the commandment Forasmuch as ye know that ye were holy, and just, and good. redeemed with corruptible Eph. v. 6. Let no man deceive things, as silver and gold, from your you with vain words : for because of vain conversation, received by tradithese things cometh the wrath of tion from your fathers; Ver. 19. But God upon the children of disobedi- with the precious blood of Christ, as Gal. iii. 10. For as many as of a lamb without blemish, and with. are of the works of the law are under the curse : for it is written, 153. i Acts xx. 21. Testifying both Cursed is every one that continueth to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, not in all things which are written in repentance toward God, and faith the book of the law to do them. toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Mat. f Lam. iii. 39. Wherefore doth a iii. 7. But when he saw many of the living man complain, a man for the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his punishment of his sins ? Deut. xxviii. baptism, he said unto them, O gefrom Verse 15. to the end. But it shall neration of vipers! who hath warncome to pass, if thou wilt not hear. ed you to flee from the wrath to ken unto the voice of the Lord thy come ? Ver. 8. Bring forth therefore God, to observe to do all his com- fruits meet for repentance. Luke mandments and his statutes, which I xiii. 3, 5. I tell you, Nay: but excommand thee this day, that all these cept ye repent, ye shall all likewise curses shall come upon thee, and perish. Acts xvi. 30. And (the overtake thee. Ver. 16. Cursed jailor). brought them out, and shalt thou be in the city, and cursed said, Sirs, what must I do to be shalt thou be in the field. Ver. 17. saved ? Ver. 31. And they said, BeCursed shall be thy basket and thy lieve on the Lord Jesus Christ, store, &c. and thou shalt be saved, and thine 8 Mat. XXV. 41. Depart from me, house. John jii 16. For God so ye cursed, into everlasting fire, pre- loved the world, that he gave his pared for the devil and his angels, only begotten Son, that whoso ever whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of his mediation Q. 154. What are the outward means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of his mediation ? A. The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicates to his church the benefits of his mediation, are all his ordinances; especially the word, sacraments, and prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for their salvation Q. 155. How is the word made effectual to salvation ? A. The Spirit of God maketh the reading, but especially the preaching of the word, an effectual means of enlightening", convincing, ever believeth in him should not Father, and of the Son, and of the perish, but have everlascing life. Holy Ghost : Ver. 20. Teaching Ver. 18. He that believeth on him them to observe all things whatsois not condemned: but he that ever I have commanded you : and, believeth not is condenined al. lo, I am with you alway, even unto ready, the end of the world. Acts ii. 42. k Prov. ii. 1. My son, if thou wilt And they continued stedfastly in the receive my words, and hide my coni- apostles' doctrine and fellowship, mandments with thee; Ver. 2. So and in breaking of bread, and in that thou incline thine ear unto wis. prayers. Ver. 46. And they, conidom, and apply thine heart to under- tinuing daily with one accord in the standing : Ver. 3. Yea, if thou criest temple, and breaking bread from after knowledge, and liftest up thy house to house, did eat their meat voice for understanding : Ver. 4. if with gladness, and singleness of heart; thou seekest her as silver, and Ver. 47. Praising God, and having searchest for her as for hid treasures : favour with all the people. And Ver. 5. Then shalt thou understand the Lord added to the church daily the fear of the Lord, and find the such as should be saved. knowledge of God. Prov. viii. 33. 155. m Neh. viii, 8. So they read Hear instruction, and be wise, and in the book in the law of God direfuse it not. Ver. 34. Blessed is stinctly, and gave the sense, and the man that heareth me, watching caused them to understand the readdaily at my gates, waiting at the ing. Acts xxvi, 18. To open their posts of my doors. Ver. 35. For eyes, and to turn them from darkness whoso findeth me findeth life, and to light, and from the power of shall obtain favour of the Lord. Satan unto God, that they may reVer. 36. But he that sinneth against ceive forgiveness of sins, and inheritme wrongeth his own soul: all they ance among them which are sancti. that hate me love death. fied by faith that is in me. Psal. 154. 1 Mat. xxviii. 19. Go ye xix. 8. - The commandment of therefore, and teach all nations, the Lord is pure, enlightening the baptizing them in the name of the eyes, 1 Cor. convincing, and humbling sinners "; of driving them out of themselves, and drawing them unto Christo; of conforming them to his image P, and subduing them to his will o; of ni Cor. xiv. 24. But if all pro- viii. from Ver. 27. to 39.-And, be. phesy, and there come in one that hold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch believeth not, or one unlearned, he of great authority,–Ver. 28. Was is convinced of all, he is judged of returning, and, sitting in his chariot, all: Ver. 25. And thus are the read Esaias the prophet. Ver. 29. secrets of his heart made manifest; Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go and so, falling down on his face, he near, and join thyself to this chariot. will worship God, and report that Ver. 30. And Philip ran thither to God is in you of a truth. 2 Chron. him, and heard him read the pro. xxxiv. 18. Then Shaphan the scribe phet Esaias, and said, Understandest told the king, saying, Hilkiah the thou what thou readest ?-Ver. 35. priest hath given me a book. And Then Philip opened his mouth, and Shaphan read it before the king. began at the sanie scripture, and Ver. 19. And it came to pass, when preached unto him Jesus. Ver. 36. the king had heard the words of And the eunuch said, See, here the law, that he rent his clothes. is water; what doth hinder me to Ver. 26. And as for the king of Ju- be baptized ? Vet. 37. And Philip dah, who sent you to enquire of the said; jf thou believest with all Lord, so shall ye say unto him, thine heart, thou mayest. And he Thus saith the Lord God of Israel answered and said, I believe that concerning the words which thou Jesus Christ is the Son of God. hast heard; Ver. 27. Because thine Ver. 38.--And they went down heart was tender, and thou didst both into the water, both Philip and humble thyself before God, when the eunuch; and he baptized him. thou heardest his words against this P 2 Cor. ii. 18. But we all with place, and against the inhabitants open face, beholding as in a glass thereof, and humbledst thyself be- the glory of the Lord, are changed fore me, and didst rend thy clothes, into the same image, from glory to and weep before me; I have even glory, even as by the Spirit of the heard thee also, saith the Lord. Lord. Ver. 28. Behold, I will gather thee 9 2 Cor. x. 4. For the weapons of to thy fathers, and thou shalt be ga- our warfare are not carnal, but thered to thy grave in peace, - mighty through God to the pulling • Acts ii. 37. Now, when they down of strong holds : Ver. 5. heard this, they were pricked in Casting down imaginations, and their heart, and said unto Peter and every high thing that exalteth itself to the rest of the apostles, Men and against the knowledge of God, brethren, what shall we do? Ver. 41. and bringing into captivity every Then they that gladly received his thought to the obedience of Christ : word were baptized: and the same. Ver. 6. And having in a readiness to day there were added unto them revenge all disobedience, when your about three thousand souls. Acts obedience is fulfilled. Rom. vi. 17. But of strengthening them against temptations and corruptions'; of building them up in grace', and establishing their hearts in holiness and comfort through faith unto salvation'. Q. 156. Is ed you. But God be thanked, that ye spiration of God, and is profitable were the servants of sin; but ye for doctrine, for reproof, for correc. have obeyed from the heart that tion, for instruction in righteousness: form of doctrine which was deliver- Ver. 17. That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unMat. iv. 4. But he answered and to all good works. said, It is written, Man shall not t Rom. xvi. 25. Now to him that live by bread alone, but by every is of power to establish you according word that proceedeth out of the to my gospel, and the preaching of mouth of God. Ver. 7. Jesus said Jesus Christ, according to the revela. unto him, It is written again, Thou tion of the mystery, which was kept shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. secret since the world began. 1 Thess. Ver. 10. Then saith Jesus unto him, i. 2. And sent Timotheus our broGet thee hence, Satan: for it is ther, and minister of God, and our written, Thou shalt worship the fellow-labourer in the gospel of Lord thy God, and him only shalt Christ, to establish you, and to comthou serve. Eph. vi. 16. Above all, fort you concerning your faith : taking the shield of faith, wherewith Ver. 10. Night and day praying exye shall be able to quench all the ceedingly that we might see your fiery darts of the wicked. Ver. 17. face, and night perfect that which And take the helmet of salvation, is lacking in your faith. Ver. 11. and the sword of the Spirit, which Now God himself and our Father, is the word of God. Psal. xix, 11. and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct Moreover, by them is thy servant our way unto you : Ver. 13. To the warned ; and in keeping of them end he may establish your hearts unthere is great reward. i Cor. x. 11. blameable in holiness before God, Now all these things happened unto even our Father, at the coming of them for ensamples: and they are our Lord Jesus Christ with all his written for our admonition, upon saints. Rom. IV. 4. For whatsoever whom the ends of the world are things were written aforetime were come. written for our learning; that we, s Acts xx. 32. And now, brethren, through patience and comfort of the I commend you to God, and to the scriptures, might have hope. Rom. word of his grace, which is able to x. 13. For whosoever shall call upon build you up, and to give you an in- the name of the Lord shall be heritance among all them which are saved. Ver. 14. How then shall sanctified. 2 Tim. iii. 15. And that they call on him in whom they have from a child thou hast known the not believed ? and how shall they holy scriptures, which are able to believe in him of whom they make thee wise unto salvation, have not heard? and how shall they through faith which is in Christ Jesus. hear without a preacher ? Ver. 15. Ver. 16. All scripture is given by in. And how shall they preach excepe P6 they Q. 156. Is the word of God to be read by all ? A 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 themselves", and with their families : W they be sent ? as it is written, How venth month. Ver. 3. And he read beautiful are the feet of them that therein before the street that was preach the gospel of peace, and before the water-gate, from the bring glad tidings of good things! morning until mid-day, before the Ver. 16. But they have not all obey- men, and the women, and those ed the gospel; for Esaias saith, that could understand; and the ears Lord, who hath believed our report? of all the people were attentive unto Ver. 17. So then faith cometh by the book of the law. Neh. ix. 3. hearing, and hearing by the word of And they stood up in their place, God. Rom. i. 16. For I am not and read in the book of the law of ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for the Lord their God one fourth part it is the power of God unto salvation of the day, and another fourth part to every one that believeth, to the they confessed, and worshipped the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Lord their God. Ver. 4. Then 156. u Deut. xxxi. 9. And Moses stood up upon the stairs, of the wrote this law, and delivered it Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, &c. and unto the priests, the sons of Levi, cried with a loud voice unto the which bare the ark of the covenant Lord their God. Ver. 5. Then the of the Lord, and unto all the elders Levites, Joshua, and Kadmiel, &c. of Israel. Ver. 11. When all Israel said, Stand up, and bless the Lord is come to appear before the Lord your God for ever and ever; and thy God in the place which he shall blessed be thy glorious name, which choose, thou shalt read this law be- is exalted above all blessing and fore all Israel in their hearing praise. Ver. 12. Gather the people together, W Deut. xvii. 19. And it shall be men, and women, and children, and with him, and he shall read therein thy stranger that is within thy gates, all the days of his life: that he may that they may hear, and that they learn to fear the Lord his God, to may learn, and fear the Lord your keep all the words of this law, and God, and observe to do all the words these statutes, to do them. Rev. of this law : Ver. 13. And that i. 3. Blessed is he that readeth, and their children, which have not they that hear the words of this known any thing; may hear, and prophecy, and keep those things learn to fear the Lord your God, as which are written therein: for the long as ye live in the land, whither time is at hand. John v. 39. Search ye go over Jordan to possess it. the scriptures, for in them ye. think Neh. viii. 2. And Ezra the priest ye have eternal life, and they are brought the law before the congre- they which testify of me. Isa. ration, both of men and women, and xxxiv. 16. Seek ye out of the book all that could hear with understand- of the Lord, and read: no one of ws, upon the first day of the sea these shall fail, * Deuta |
