Question 90

Must we read the Word of God with Seriousness?

Yes. We must give Attendance to reading,^a

And not read it as a common Book?

No. It is not a vain thing, for it is your Life,^b

Must we be diligent to hear the Word?

Yes. Watching daily at Wisdom’s Gates, waiting at the Posts of her Doors,^c

Must we prepare for hearing it?

Yes. Lay aside all Malice, and Guile, and Hypocrisie, all Filthiness, and Superfluity of Naughtiness,^d

Must we come to it with a Spiritual Appetite?

Yes. As new-born Babes desire the sincere Milk of the Word,^e

Must we set our selves to receive it?

Yes. As Mary sate at Jesus Feet to hear his Word,^f

Must we bow our Souls before it?

Yes. Speak, Lord, for thy Servant hears,^g

Must we diligently hearken to it?

Yes. Be swift to hear,^h

Must we hear the Word with Reverence?

Yes. When Ezra open’d the Book all the People stood up,ⁱ

Must we hear it with Care?

Yes. Take heed how ye hear,^j

And with Meekness?

Yes. Receive with Meekness the engrafted Word,^k

And with Delight?

Yes. How sweet are thy Words unto my Taste!^l

And with a Holy Fear?

Yes. We must tremble at the Word,^m

Must we receive it as the Word of Men?

No. But as it is in Truth the Word of God,ⁿ

Must we take heed of sleeping under the Word?

Yes. Could ye not watch with me one Hour?^o

Must we pray for a Blessing upon the Word?

Yes. Open thou mine Eyes that I may behold wondrous Things out of thy Law,^p

Must we receive the Word with Faith?

Yes. For it will not profit if it be not mixed with Faith,^q

Must we receive Mens Word with an implicite Faith?

No. Believe not every Spirit, but try the Spirits,^r

But must we receive God’s Word with an implicite Faith?

Yes. For every Word of God is pure,^s

Must we receive it with Love?

Yes. I have esteemed the Words of his Mouth more than my necessary Food,^t

Must we remember the Word we read and hear?

Yes. Lest at any time we let it slip,^u

Must we lay it up in our Hearts?

Yes. Thy Word have I hid in my Heart,^v

Must we meditate on it?

Yes. In that Law doth he meditate Day and Night,^w

Must we practice it in our Lives?

Yes. Be ye Doers of the Word, and not Hearers only,^x

Will it suffice to hear though we do not practice?

No. If ye know these Things happy are ye if ye do them,^y