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. “Who makes the word effectual for our salvation?

A. The holy Spirit of God, 1 Thess. i. 5. and ii. 13.

Qj What of the word doth the Spirit make effectual for our salvation?

1 A. Both the reading and the preaching of the word, but especially the preaching of it, Rom. x. 17.

Q. Why doth God especially make the preaching of the word effectual?

A. To maintain the honour of that ordinance, the attendance upon which is most difficult; and which includes a more open testimony for Christ, in opposision to the visible kingdom of Satan, Rom. x. 15, 16, 17.

Q. Is there reason to expect advantage to our souls by reading the scriptures at home, when no! necessarily detained from public worship?

A. No; we are not to think that God will bless a seeming regard to one ordinance while we ought to be engaged in the observation of another: besides, it is written, Whosoever will not come up of all the families’ of the earth unto ‘Jerusalem, to worship l he King the Lord of hosts, even upon them shall be no spiritual rain, Zech. xiv. 17.

Q. Of what use is the reading and preaching of the word to elect sinners? A. It is an effectual means of convincing and converting them, Rom. i. andiii. Heb. iv. 12,

Q. How is the word of God a means of conviction? A. It shews what is sinful, and what is the nature, aggravations, and wages of sin, Rom. iii.

Q. How is the word a mean of converting sinners? A. It shews why, from what, and to what we should turn and by it the Spirit of God conveys his converting grace, or the new nature into our heart. See Quest. 31. Q. Of what use is the reading and preaching of the word, to the elect after conversion? A. It is an effectual

means of building them up in holiness and comfort,

.Q.. What is that holiness in which they are built up? A. Their sanctification of nature and life. Q. What is that comfoit in which they are built up? A. Assurance of God’s love, peace of conscience, and joy In the Holy Gnost. See Quest. 35, 36.

Q. Upon what foundation is this holiness and comfort built? A. On Christ as our portion, righteousness,

and strength; and upon God, in his perfections and promises, asmade ours in Christ, Isa. xxviii. 16. 1 Cor. iii. 12» Qj What is meant by building up saints in holiness and comfort? A. It is to make them increase and abound

in holiness and comfort, Piov. xviii. 2 Peter iii. 18.

Q. How is the word a mean of building us up in holiness A. It shews us what is our duty, with the nature, pattern, and motives of holiness 3 it condemns all impurity, discovers errors, corruptions, and temptations 3 and fortifies against them, by the Spirit’s conveying his sanctifying influences into our heart, John xvii. 17.

Q. How do*h the word build up saints in comfort A. It reveals the strongest grounds of comfort, such as promises of pardon and eternal life; and by it the love of God is shed abroad in our heart, Psalm cxix. 49, 50.

Qj To what height are we by the word built up in holiness and comfort? A. Unto complete salvation.

Q. Through what doth the word of God build us up in holiness and comfort? A. Through faith.

Q. How is it through faith that the word becomes effectual for our salvation?

A. As by faith we receive the word in its convincing, converting, sanctifying, and comforting influence, into our heart, Acts xv. 9. Heb. iv. 2.

Qy Why is the word of God compared to a hammer, fire, light, rain, and milk? A. As a hammer, it

breaks*, as ajf/v, it melts and purges; as light, it instructs as rain, dew, or water, it refreshes and fructifies; and as milky it restores and nourisheth our heart, Jer. xxiii. 29.