HenryWSC 90

Matthew Henry’s Westminster Shorter Catechism Commentary on Question 90

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Must we read the Word of God with seriousness? Yes: we must give attendance to reading,
1 Tim. 4:13
. And not read it as a common book? No: It is not a vain thing, for it is your life,
Deut. 32:47
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Must we be diligent to hear the word? Yes: Watching daily at Wisdom’s gates, waiting at the posts of her doors,
Prov. 8:34
. Must we prepare for hearing it? Yes: Lay aside all malice, and guile, and hypocrisy, and filthiness, and superfluity of naughtiness,
1 Pet. 2:1
. Must we come to it with a spiritual appetite? Yes: as new-born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word,
1 Pet. 2:2
. Must we set ourselves to receive it? Yes: as Mary sat at Jesus’ feet to hear his word,
Luke 10:39
. Must we bow our souls before it? Yes: Speak, Lord, for thy servant hears,
1 Sam. 3:9
. Must we diligently hearken to it? Yes: Be swift to hear,
James 1:19
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Must we hear the word with reverence? Yes: When Ezra opened the book all the people stood up,
Neh. 8:5
. Must we hear it with care? Yes: Take heed how ye hear,
Luke 8:18
. And with meekness? Yes: Receive with meekness the engrafted word,
James 1:21
.And with delight? Yes: How sweet are thy words unto my taste:
Ps. 119:103
. And with a holy fear? Yes: we must tremble at the word,
Isa. 66:2
. Must we receive it as the word of men? No: but as it is in truth, the Word of God,
1 Thess. 2:13
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Must we take heed of sleeping under the word? Yes: Could ye not watch with me one hour?
Matt. 26:40
. Must we pray for a blessing upon the word? Yes: Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law,
Ps. 119:18
. Must we receive the word with faith? Yes: for it will not profit if it be not mixed with faith,
Heb. 4:2
. Must we receive men’s words with an implicit faith? No: Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits, 1
John 4:1
. But must we receive God’s word with an implicit faith? Yes: for every word of God is pure,
Prov. 30:5
. Must we receive it with love? Yes: I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food,
Job 23:12
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Must we remember the word we read and hear? Yes: lest at any time we let it slip,
Heb. 2:1
. Must we lay it up in our hearts? Yes: Thy word have I hid in my heart,
Ps. 119:11
. Must we meditate on it? Yes: In that law doth he meditate day and night,
Ps. 1:2
. Must we practise it in our lives? Yes: be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only,
James 1:22
. Will it suffice to hear, though we do not practise? No: If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them,
John 13:17
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HenryWSC 90