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they continued stedfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayer.

Q6. To whom are the ordinances made effectual for salvation?

A. The ordinances are made effectual for salvation, to the elect only, Acts ii. 46, 47. And they continued with one accord in the temple, and breaking of bread, praising God. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

89. Q. How is the word made effectual to salvation?

A. The Spirit of God maketh the reading, but especially the preaching ofthe 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 the ordinance or appointment of the Lord in reference unto the word, that it may be effectual unto salvation?

A. The ordinance or appointment of the Lord in reference unto the word. that it may be effectual unto salvation, is: 1. That we read the word, Deut. xvii. 10. 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 statutes, to them, John v. 39. Search the scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me. 2. That we hear the word preached, Isa. liii. 3. Incline thine ear, and come unto me; hear, and thy soul shall live. 1 Cor. i. 21. It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

Q. 2. How is the word made effectual unto salvation?

A. The word is made effectual unto salvation, 1. In reference unto sinners and ungodly, as the word is a means. 1. To covince them of sin, and to effect them with a remorse for it, 1 Cor. xiv. 24, 25. But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all he is judged of all. And thus are the secrets of his heart made mani

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fest, and so falling down on his face, he will worship and report that God is in you of a truth. Heb. iv. 12. For the word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than a two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of the soul, and of the spirit and of the joints, and of the marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Acts ii. 37. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their hearts. 2. To convert then from sin and join them unto christ, and his people, Psal. xix. 8. The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. Acts i. 41. Then they that gladly received his word, were babtized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls, Acts iv. 14. Howbeit, many of them which heard the word believed: and the number of the men were about five thosuand. 2dly, In reference unto those that are converted, the word is effectual for salvation as it is a means of building them up in holiness and comfort unto salvation, Acts xx. 32. And now brethren, I commend you unto God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among those that are sanctified, Eph. iv. 11, 12, 13. And he gave some pastors and teachers : for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measures of the statute of the fulness of Christ. Q. 3. How doth the word build up the saints in holiness?

A. The word doth build up the saints in holiness. 1. As it is a means to work them into a greater conformity unto the image of God, and to cause an increase of every grace in them, 2 Cor. iii. 18. We all with open face, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory. 1. Peter ii. 2. As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the word. that ye may grow thereby. 2. As it doth reprove, correct, instruct in righteousness, and thereby perfect them more and more, and fit them for good works, 2 Tim. iii. 16, 17. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable

for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect thoroughly furnished unto every good work. 3. As it is a means of pulling down of strong holds in the soul, and more and more subjugating, and subduing all thoughts and affections unto the obedience of Christ, 2 Cor. x. 4, 5. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of strong holds casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledg of God, and bringeth into captivity every thought unto the obedience of Christ. 4. As it is a means to strengthen the saints against the temptations of the devil, and the corruptions of their own hearts, Eph. vi. 13, 17. Take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day. Take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Mat. iv. 10. Get thee hence, Satan; for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, &c. Ps. cxix. 9. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way ? by taking heed thereto according to thy word? 5. As it is a means to establish the saints in the truths and ways of God, and to strengthen them against error and sedition, Rom. xvi. 25. Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and preaching of Jesus Christ, &c. Eph. iv. 14. That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind ofdoctrine, by the slight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.

Q. 4. How doth the word build up the saints in comfort?

A. The word doth build up the saints in comfort: 1. As it doth reveal and hold forth the chiefest grounds of comfort, such as the promise of pardon and eternal life, Isa. xl. 1. 2. Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God, speak ye comfortably unto Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her sins are pardoned, 1 John ii. 25. This is the promise that he hath promised even eternal life. 3. As it is the means of conveying to the soul the most sweet and unutterable joys of the holy Ghost, 1 Thess. i. 6.

And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, hav. ing received the word in much affliction, and joy of the holy Ghost.

Q. 5. Is the word effectual unto salvation by any virtue or power in itself?

A. The word is not effectual unto salvation by any virtue or power in itself, but by the operation of the Spirit of God in and by the word, 2 Cor. iii. 1. Who also hath made us able ministers of the new Testament, not of the letter, but of the Spirit: for the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life.

Q. 6. How doth the word work effectually unto salvation?

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A. The word doth work effectually unto salvation, through faith, 1 Thess. ii. 13. Ye receive it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. Rom. i. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation, to every one that believeth..

90. Q. How is the word to be read and heard that it may become effectual unto salvation?

A. That the word may become effectual unto salvation, we must attend thereunto with diligence preparation and prayer, receive it with faith and love, lay it up in our hearts, and practise it in our lives.

Q. What is required before the hearing of the word, that may become effectual unto salvation?

A. Before the hearing of the word, that it may become effectual unto salvation, two things are required: 1. Preparation. 2. Prayer.

Q. 2. What is the preparation that is required before the hearing of the word?

A The preparation which is required before the hearing of the word, is: 1. That we consider the Majesty of God, in whose presence we are apt to appear, and whose words we are to hear, Acts x. 33. We are all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God. 2. That we examine ourselves, to find out, and lay aside whatever may hin

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der the saving opperation of the word of God upon us, Psal. xxvi. 6. I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O Lord, James i. 21. Wherefore lay apart all superfluity of naughtiness. and receive with meekness the ingrafted word. which is able to save our souls, 1 Pet. ii. 2. Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies and envies, and all evil-speakings, as new-born babes desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.

Q. 3. What is the prayer which is required before hearing the word?

A. The prayer which is required before hearing the word, is, prayer in secret and in our families, for God's assistance of his ministers, in preaching the word to us, and for his blessing the word, and making it effectual to us by his Spirit, in our hearing of it, 2 Thess. iii. 1. Pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified.

Q. 4. What is required in reading and hearing the word, to make it effectual unto salvation?

A. In reading and hearing the word, that it may become effectual unto salvation, three things are required: 1. Attention, 2. Faith 3. Love.

Q. 5. What is that attention which is required in reading and hearing the word?

A. The attention which is required in reading and hearing the word, is a diligent inclining the ear, and bending the mind, that we may understand what we read and hear, Prov. ii. 1, 2, 5. My son. if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; so that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart unto understanding: Then shaft thou understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

Q6. What is that faith which is requred in reading and hearing the word?

A. The faith which is required in reading and hearing the word, doth imply: 1. in general, a believing assent unto the divine authority of the whole scripture, that is indeed the word of God and however it were penned by divers holy men, in divers ages, that

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