Of the manner of hearing,
An Exposition of the assembly's Catechism.
beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace, that publisheth salvation, that faith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth.
Of the Manner of Hearing.
Quest. 90.
OW is the word to be read and heard, that H itmaybecome effectual to salvation ?
A. That the word may become effectual to salvation, we must attend thereunto with diligence, preparation, and prayer, receive it with faith and love, lay it up in our hearts, andprac tiseit in our lives.
Q. 1. If the matter we read or hear be good, is not that e nough for our salvation ?
A. No, God requires that the word be read and heard in a due manner, and the manner of hearing is of special regard with God; Luke viii. 18. Take heed thereforehowyehear, &c.
Q.2.Howmanythings belong to the due manner of hearing?
A. Three forts ofdutiesbelong to it; some antecedent, as preparation and prayer ; some concomitant, as due diligence and retention; and some subsequent, as practice.
Q. 3. What is duepreparationforhearing?
A. It consists in serious consideration of the greatness and holiness ofthatGodwhom we approach in hearing the word;
Acts x. 33. Now therefore we are all here presentbeforeGod, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God. And awingtheheart even to a degree of holy trembling thereby ;
Ifa. lxvi. 2. To him will I look, eventohim that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
Q. 4. What is the principal confiderationthus to awe the heart?
A. The word is initsownnatureanheart-searching word ; Heb. iv. 12. For the wordofGod is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even tothedivid ingasunder of foul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is adifcerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
And that eventually it will be the favour of life or death to us ; 2Cor. ii. 16. To the one we are the favour of death unto death ; and to the other the favour of life unto life, &c.
Q. 5. What else belongs to due preparation to hear ?
A.Thedifchargingofthe heart from worldly cares; Matth. xiii. 7. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up andchoaked them. And carnal lusts ; James i. 21. Where-
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An Exposition of the Assembly's Catechism. fore lay apart all filthiness and fuperfluity ofnaughtiness, and receive with meekness the ingrafted word, which is able to faveyour fouls.
Q. 6. What is the third act of due preparation ?
A. Longing after the word for further communications of grace by it ; Pet. ii. 2. As new-born babes desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.
Ifa. ii. 3.
And many people shall go and say, Comeye, and let us goup to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God ofJacob, and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths : for out of Zion shallgo forth the law, and the word of the
Lord from Jerusalem.
Q. 7. What is the second antecedent duty of hearing ?
A. Prayer is an antecedentduty to hearing the word, and that both for the assistance of the minister ;
2 Theff. iii. 1 .
Finally,brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may havefreecourse, and be glorified, even as it is with you. And our own illumination ; Psalm cxix. 18. Open thou mine eyes,that Imaybehold wondrous things out ofthylaw.
Q. 8. What else should we pray for ?
A. That God would pour out his Spirit with the word, according to that promise, Prov. i. 23. I will pour out my Spirit upon you, I will make known my words unto you.
Q. 9. Doth unpreparedness for the word always hinder its efficacy on the heart ?
A. No,God sometimes is found of them that fought him not; Ifa. lxv. 1. I was found of them that fought me not, &c.
But it is isa finto neglect it, and needs apardonofGod.
Q. 10. What is the first motivetoprepare for folemnduties ?
A. That it argues the sincerity of the heart, and in that cafeGod will be merciful to infirmities ; 2 Chron. xxx. 18,
19. For a multitude of the people, even a multitude ofEphraim and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did eat the pafsover, but not as it is written.; wherefore Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good Lord be merciful towards him that prepareth his whole heart to seek the Lord God, the God of his fathers, though hebe not cleansed, according to the purification of the sanctuary.
Q. 11. What is the second motive ?
A. It is a sweet sign that God will make that duty successful for which the heart is prepared ; Psalm x. 17. Thou preparest their heart ; thou bendest thine ear to them.
Q12. What is the third motive to preparation ?
A. The majestyandjealousy of God, towhomweapproach,
An Exposition of the Assembly's Catechism.
obliges us to solemn perparation ; Heb. xii. 28, 29. Whereby we may ferveGod acceptably, with reverence andgodly fear; for our God is a consuming fire.
Q. 13. But must a man neglect the duty, if his heart be not dulyprepared for it ?
A. No ; for that would be to add a new sin to a former, and aggravate it the more.
Q. 14. In what manner must thepreparedheartgo to the word?
A. Not in dependance on its own preparations, but upon the Spirit's assistance ; Psalm lxxi. 16. I will go forward in the strength of the Lord God, &c.
Q. 15. What is the first act of faith due to the word?
A. The affenting act of faith is required to the word read or preached, whereby we acknowledge it to be of divine authority ; 2 Tim. iii. 16. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness ; 2 Peter i. 21. For the prophecy came not inoldtime by the will of man : but holy menofGodspake as they were moved bytheholyGhost.
Q. 16. What is the second act of faith required of us ?
A. An applying act of faith is also required of us ; Rom. xv. 4. For whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Q. 17. What is the first end in applying the word ?
A. It is first to be applied to our conviction both of fin and misery ; Acts ii. 37. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their hearts, and said unto Peter, and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do ?
Q. 18. What is the second end, or use of applying it ?
A. It must be applied for our guidance and direction to Christ ; John vi. 45. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father cometh unto ne.
Q. 19. What is the third use to which it must be applied ?
A. We must apply it for our direction through the whole courseofChriftianduties ; 2Pet. i. 19. We have also a more furewordof prophecy ; whereunto yedo 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.
Q. 20. What other use must we apply it to ?
A. It must be applied for our comfort in all inward and outward troubles ; Rom. xv. 4. For whatsoever things were writ.
An Exposition of the Assembly's Catechism. ten aforetime,were written for our learning, that we through patienceandcomfort of the scriptures mighthavehope.
Q. 21. On what account are we to receive it with love?
A. We are to love it for its author's sake, because it is the word of God ; Psalm cxix. 159. Confider how I love thy precepts, &c.
Q. 22. What is the second motive of love to the word ?
A. The holiness and purity of it deserves and engages our love to it ; Psalm cxix. 140. Thy word is very pure : therefore thyfervant loveth it.
Q. 23. What is the third motive to engage our love to it?
A. The great and constant usefulness of it to our fouls, as that we cannot subsist without Job xxiii. 12. I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
Q. 24. How doth this love to the word manifest itself ?
A. Our love manifests itself in our longing after it ; Psalm cxix. 20. My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.
Our diligent attendance on it; Acts x. 33. Immediately therefore I sent unto thee, and thou haftwelldone that thou art come. Now therefore are we all herepresentbeforeGod, to hear all things that are command. edthee of God.
25. How is faith and love evidenced to the word after hearing it?
A. By preserving it carefully in our hearts and memories; Psalm cxix, 11. Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not fin against thee.
26. What is the best cure for a bad memory ?
A. Labour to get an high esteem of it, and an experimental feeling of it, and frequently meditate on it; Psalm cxix. 16.
I will delight myselfinthy statutes : Iwillnotforgetthy word.
Psalm cxix. 93. I will never forget thy precepts ; for with them thou hast quickenedme. Plalm cxix. 99. Thy testimonies are my meditation.
27. How is faith and love principally manifested to the word after hearing ?
A. It is principally manifested by bringing forth the fruits of it in our lives ; Col. i. 5, 6. For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereofye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which isiscomeuntoyou, as it is in all the world, and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since thedayyeheard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth.
28. What is the use of all this ?
A. This serves to reproveour formal anddeadhearing the