THE
WORD OF GOD
M.—The order already adopted by us requires that we now consider the fourth part of divine worship.
S.—We said that this consists in acknowledging God as the author of all good, and in extolling his goodness, justice, wisdom, and power with praise and thanksgiving, that thus the glory of all good may remain entirely with him.
M.—Has he prescribed no rule as to this part?
S.—All the praises extant in Scripture ought to be our rule.
M.—Has the Lord’s Prayer nothing which applies here?
S.—Yes. When we pray that his name may be hallowed, we pray that he may be duly glorified in his works-that he may be regarded, whether in pardoning sinners, as merciful; or in exercising vengeance, as just; or in performing his promises, as true: in short, that whatever of his works we see may excite us to glorify him. This is indeed to ascribe to him the praise of all that is good.
M.—What shall we infer from these heads which have hitherto been considered by us?
S.—What truth itself teaches, and was stated at the outset, viz., that this is eternal life to know one true God the Father, and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent, (John xvii. 3, )-to know him, I say, in order that we may pay due honor and worship to him, that he may be not only our Lord but also our Father and Savior, and we be in turn his children and servants, and accordingly devote our lives to the illustration of his glory.
M.—How can we attain to such blessedness?
S.—For this end God has left us his holy word; for spiritual doctrine is a kind of door by which we enter his heavenly kingdom.
M.—Where are we to seek for this word?
S.—In the Holy Scriptures, in which it is contained.
M.—How are you to use it in order to profit by it?
S.—By embracing it with entire heartfelt persuasion, as certain truth come down from heaven-by being docile, and subjecting our minds and wills in obedience to it- by loving it sincerely-by having it once for all engraven on our hearts, and there rooted so as to produce fruit in our life-finally, by being formed after its rule. Then shall it turn to our salvation, as it was intended.
M.—Are all these things put in our own power?
S.—None of them at all; but every thing which I have mentioned it belongs to God only to effect in us by the gift of his Spirit.
M.—But are we not to use diligence, and zealously strive to profit in it by reading, hearing, and meditating?
S.—Yea, verily: seeing that every one ought to exercise
himself in the daily reading of it, and all should be especially careful to attend the sermons when the doctrine of salvation is expounded in the assembly of the faithful.
M.—You affirm then that it is not enough for each to read privately at home, and that all ought to meet in common to hear the same doctrine?
S.—They must meet when they can-that is, when an opportunity is given.
M.—Are you able to prove this to me?
S.—The will of God alone ought to be amply sufficient for proof; and the order which he hath recommended to his church is not what two or three only might observe, but all should obey in common. Moreover, he declares this to be the only method of edifying as well as preserving. This, then, should be a sacred and inviolable rule to us, and no one should think himself entitled to be wise above his Master.
M.—Is it necessary, then, that pastors should preside over churches?
S.—Nay; it is necessary to hear them, and listen with fear and reverence to the doctrine of Christ as propounded from their lips.
M.—But is it enough for a Christian man to have been instructed by his pastor once, or ought he to observe this course during life?
S.—It is little to have begun, unless you persevere. We must be the disciples of Christ to the end, or rather without end. But he has committed to the ministers of the Church the office of teaching in his name and stead.