A. Only upon the ground of the [ surety righteousness imputed unto him, Isa. xlv. 24.

Q.54. What is the principal object of his indignation?

A. It is sin, as striking immediately against God, Psal. li. 4. compared with Psal. cxix. 104.

Q. 55. What is that fear, which is an evidence of true repentance? A. It is a filial and reverential fear of God, or a standing in awe to offend him. Gen. xxxix. 9. Q. 56. What is that vehement desire, which a true penitent is privileged with?

A. It is an earnest and ardent desire after conformity to God, and fellowship with him, Psal. xxvii.4. Q. 57. What kind of zeal is it, that is evidential of gospel repentance?

A. It is zeal for the glory of God, and the interest of Christ in the world, Psal. cxxxvii. 5, 6.

Q.58. What is that revenge, which is competent to a true penitent?

A. It is necessary in respect of the command of God, Acts xvii. 30; and as evidential of the reality of faith, whereof, it is the native fruit, and effect, Zech. xii. 10.

Q. 60. May not this duty be delayed or put off for a while?

A. No: because of the uncertainty of time, Luke xii. 19, 20. and the continuance of the Spirit's striving, Gen. vi. 3.

Q. 61. When should the Lord's people apply to him, for the exercise of this grace of repentance, in a more special and particular manner?

A. After great falls, 2 Sam. xii. 13; when under sore trials, or deep affliction, 2 Sam. xv. 26.30; and when they are to ask of God some singular favour or mercy, Dan. ix. 8. compared with verse 18, 19.

Q. 62. By what means may the lively exercise of repentance be attained?

A. By looking on it as the gift of Christ, Acts v. 31: and by A. It is such a revenge against viewing our sins as laid on him, sin, as aims at the utter ruin and who was pierced for them, Zech. extirpation thereof, Rom. vii. 24. xii. 10; together with searching Q. 59. In what respects is re-and trying our ways, Lam. iii. pentance necessary?

40.

QUEST. 88. What are the outward means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption?

ANSW. The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption, are his ordinances, especially the word, sacraments, and prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for sal

vation.

Q. 1. What do you understand, sal, Luke xxii. 29. "I appoint by [the benefits of redemption]? [or dispone] unto you a kingdom."

A. All the blessings of Christ's purchase, which may be summed up in grace here, and glory hereafter, Psal. lxxxiv. 11.

Q.2.Who [communicateth] these benefits or blessings to us?

Q.3. How comes Christ to have the disposal of them wholly in his hands?

A. By his Father's gift, John iii. 35. "The Father loveth the Son, A. [CHRIST] himself, who and hath GIVEN all things into his has them wholly at his dispo-hand:" and by his own purchase

of them; hence called a purchased
possession, Eph. i. 14.
Q. 4.
What is it for Christ to
communicate the benefits of re-
demption?

A. It is not to give away the property of them from himself, but to make us sharers with him in them all: that is, to make us "heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ," Rom. viii. 17.

Q. 5. Whether doth Christ communicate them in a mediate or immediate way?

A. In a mediate way, through the intervention of ordinances, Eph. iv. 11-14.

Q. 6. What are the ordinances whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption?

A. Because, though the other ordinances above mentioned are not to be excluded, as being all of them useful in their own place:yet the word, sacraments, and prayer, are the chief or principal outward means for communicating the benefits of redemption, Acts ii. 42.

Q. 10. What is the special use fulness of the [word] for communicating the benefits of redemption?

A. In the word these benefits are exhibited and offered to sinners of mankind, as the ground of their faith, that, believing, they may be possessed of them all, John xx. 31.

Q. 11. What is the special use fulness of the [sacraments] for communicating these benefits?

A.They are "prayer and thanksgiving, in the name of Christ; the A. The sacraments represent to reading, preaching, and hearing our senses, 1 Cor. x. 16. what the of the word; the administration, word doth to our faith, and are and receiving the sacraments; designed for the confirmation church government and disci-thereof, Rom. iv. 11. pline; the ministry and maintenance thereof; religious fasting; swearing by the name of God; and vowing unto him."*

Q. 7.Why are these called [HIS] ordinances?

A. Because they are all of them instituted and prescribed by him in his word, as the alone King and Head of his church, to be observed therein, unto the end of the world, Matt. xxviii. 20.

Q. 12. What is the special usefulness of [prayer] for the above purpose?

A. The prayer of faith fetches home to the soul, all the good that is wrapped up both in the word and in the sacraments, Mark xi. 24-"What things soever you desire when ye pray, believing that ye receive them, ye shall have them."

whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption?

Q. 13. Why are the word, sacraQ. 8. Have we any reason to ex-ments, and prayer, called [means] pect, that the benefits of redemp. tion will be communicated by ordinances of man's invention and appointment?

A. Because he is pleased to be gin and carry on the work of grace in the soul, by, and under these ordinances, Acts ii. 41, 42.

Q. 14. Why called the [outward] means?

A. No; for all such ordinances, having no higher sanction than the commandments of men, are declared to be IN VAIN, Matt. xv. 9; they are condemned as will- A. To distinguish them from worship, Col. ii. 18; and the ob- faith, repentance,and other inward servers of them severely threat-means; and particularly to distinened, Mic. vi. 16. guish them from the inward and powerful influences of the Holy Spirit, which are necessary to ac

Q. 9. Why is it said, [especially the word, sacraments and prayer]?

* Larger Cat. Quest. 108. See them all explained, on the Duties required in the Second Commandment.

QUEST. 89. How is the word made effectual to salvation? ANSW. The Spirit of God maketh the reading, but especially the preaching of the word, an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, and of building them up, in holiness and comfort, through faith, unto salvation.

Q. 1. What is meant by [the ing,] John v.39; but especially the word] in this answer? preaching thereof, 2 Tim. iv. 2. Q. 3. "Is the word of God to be read by all?"

A. Although all are not perQ. 2. What hath God appointed mitted to read the word publicly to with reference to his word, that it the congregation, Deut. xxxi. 9. may be effectual to salvation? 11. yet all sorts of people are A. He hath appointed [the read- bound to read it apart by them

selves, chap. xvii. 19. and with their families, chap. vi. 7."*

Q. 4. 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. viii. 8. "So they read in the book, in the law of God distinctly, and gave the SENSE, and caused them (namely the people) to understand the reading."

Q. 5. Why is the reading of the scriptures apart by ourselves necessary for every one?

A. Because the scriptures are a sword for defence, Eph. vi. 17; a lamp for direction, Psal. cxix. 105; and food for nourishment, Jer. xv. 16; in all which respects they are necessary for every Christian travelling Zion-ward, 2 Tim. iii. 16, 17.

Q. 6. May not the reading of the scriptures in our families, supersede the reading of them by ourselves?

A. No: the doing of the one ought by no means to justle out the other.

are the very word of God, 2 Pet. i. 21; and that he only can enable us to understand them, Luke xxiv. 45."+

Q. 9. Why should we read the scriptures with an high and reverend esteem of them?

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

Q. 10. 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. ii. 13.

Q.11. 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 ne cessary to a saving and experimental knowledge of them, 1 Cor. ii. 10.

Q. 12. "By whom is the word of God to be preached?"

A. "Only by such as are sufficiently gifted, Mal. ii. 7. and also duly approved and called to that office, Rom.x. 15. 1 Tim. iv. 14."§

Q. 13. 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. iii. 7 ;

Q. 7. What is essentially requisite in order to capacitate the un-but likewise such as have a comlearned to read the scriptures? petent stock of human literature, Tit. i. 19; and are, in the judg

A. That they be "translated out of the original into vulgar lan-ment of charity, reputed to be piguages, 1 Cor. xiv. 11.”+

Q. 8. How is the word of God to be read?

ous and religious men,2 Tim. i. 5. Q. 14. What is it to be duly approved and called to that office? A. It is not only to be approved

A. "The holy scriptures are to be read with a high and rever-by the presbytery, who have the end esteem of them, Neh. viii. 5; sole power of trying the ministe with a firm persuasion that they rial qualifications, and of ordina

* Larg. Cat. Quest. 156.

+ Ibid.

Ibid. Quest. 157.

Ibid. Quest. 158,

tion to that office, 1 Tim. iv. 14; | but likewise to have the call and consent of the people, who are to be under the pastoral inspection and charge, Acts i. 23. and xiv. 23. Q. 15. "How is the word of God to be preached by those that are called thereunto?"

A. They are to preach "sound doctrine diligently, plainly, faith

Q. 21. When do they preach the word zealously?

A. When they do it "with fervent love to God, and the souls of his people, 2 Cor. v. 14. and xii. 15."*

Q. 22. How is the word preached sincerely?

A. When there is an "aiming at God's glory, and his people's fully, wisely, zealously, and sin-conversion, edification, and sal

cerely."

Q. 16. What are we to understand by sound doctrine?

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

Q. 17. What is it to preach sound doctrine diligently?

vation, 1 Thess. ii. 4. 1 Cor. ix. 22. 1 Tim. iv. 16."*

Q. 23. Who is it that makes the reading and preaching of the word effectual to salvation?

A. [THE SPIRIT OF GOD,] 1 Cor. ii. 11. The things of God knoweth no man, but the SPIRIT of God. Q. 24. How doth he make them effectual?

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

Q. 25. What is it that the Spirit A. It is to be instant in sea-of God makes the reading and son, and out of season, 2 Tim. iv. preaching of the word an effectual 2"* embracing every opportu- means of? nity of doing good to souls; and watching for them, as they that must give an account, Heb. xiii. 17. Q. 18. 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. ii. 4."*

Q. 19. What is it to preach the word faithfully?

A. It is a "making known the whole council of God, (or at least a not shunning to do so), Acts xx. 27."*

Q. 20. When may ministers be said to preach wisely?

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].

Q. 26. Whether doth 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.

Q. 27. How do you prove, that the preaching of the word is honoured as the most ordinary mean?

A. When in studying, or preaching, they are wholly taken up in A. From express scripture tes"applying themselves to the neces- timony to this purpose, Acts iv. 4. sities and capacities of the hear-"Many of them which heard the ers, Luke xii. 42. 1 Cor. iii. 2.”* word believed," chap. xi. 20, 21.

* Larger. Cat. Quest. 159.