HenryWSC 31

Matthew Henry’s Westminster Shorter Catechism Commentary on Question 31

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Is the common call given to the world? Yes: he sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden,
Matt. 22:3
. Can ministers make that call effectual? No: for who hath believed our report,
Isa. 53:1
. Is it the work of God to make it effectual? Yes: for it is God that giveth the increase,
1 Cor. 3:7
. Does he do it in a way suitable to our nature? Yes: I drew them with cords of a man,
Hos. 11:4
. Is it necessary to our salvation that the call should be effectual? Yes: who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling,
2 Tim. 1:9
.
Are all who are effectually called convinced of sin? Yes: I was alive without the law once, but when the commandment came, sin revived,
Rom. 7:9
. Is it the Spirit’s work to convince? Yes: when he is come he will convince the world of sin,
John 16:8
. Is the word the ordinary means of conviction? Yes: for by the law is the knowledge of sin,
Rom. 3:20
. Is it necessary we should be convinced of sin? Yes: for they that are whole need not a physician,
Matt. 9:12
. Must we be convinced of the fact of sin? Yes: These things thou hast done,
Ps. 50:21
. And of the fault of sin? Yes: Know therefore, and see, that it is an evil thing,
Jer. 2:19
. And of the folly of sin? Yes: Herein thou hast done foolishly,
2 Chron. 16:9
. And of the filth of sin? Yes: For how canst thou say, I am not polluted?
Jer. 2:23
. And of the fruit of sin? Yes: Your sins have separated between you and your God,
Isa. 59:1–2
. And of the fountain of sin? Yes: They shall know every man the plague of his own heart,
1 Kings 8:38
.
Does the Spirit, when he has convinced us of sin and misery, leave us so? No: for he has torn, and he will heal us,
Hos. 6:1
. When he has showed us our wound, does he show us our remedy? Yes: O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself, but in me is thy help,
Hos. 13:9
. Does he enlighten our minds? Yes: the Spirit of wisdom and revelation is given, that the eyes of our understanding may be enlightened,
Eph. 1:17–18
. Does he enlighten them with the knowledge of Christ? Yes: he gives the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ,
2 Cor. 4:6
. Does he discover to the soul Christ’s ability to save? Yes: I have laid help upon one that is mighty,
Ps. 89:19
. And his willingness to save? Yes: I will, be thou clean,
Matt. 8:3
. Should we be most ambitious of the knowledge of Christ? Yes: counting all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord,
Phil. 3:8
. Does the Spirit direct convinced sinners to Christ? Yes: Turn ye to the B hold, ye prisoners of hope,
Zech. 9:12
.
Is it enough to have the mind enlightened? No: for we are called into a professed subjection to the gospel of Christ,
2 Cor. 9:13
. Must the will therefore be renewed? Yes: for it is God that worketh in us both to will and to do of his own good pleasure,
Phil. 2:13
. Is it the work of the Spirit to incline the will to do that which is good? Yes: Incline my heart unto thy testimonies,
Ps. 119:36
. And is that the renewing of the will? Yes: A new heart will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you,
Ezek. 36:26
. Does that make the will pliable? Yes: I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh,
Ezek. 11:19
. Does it bring it into subjection to the will of God? Yes: Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?
Acts 9:6
. And is that a cheerful subjection? Yes: because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost,
Rom. 5:5
.
Is Christ offered to us in the gospel? Yes: Behold, I stand at the door and knock,
Rev. 3:20
. Is he freely offered? Yes: Come buy, without money, and without price,
Isa. 55:1
. Are we concerned to embrace that offer? Yes: Come eat of my bread, and drink of the wine that I have mingled,
Prov. 9:5
. Are we by nature averse to it? Yes: Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life,
John 5:40
. Do sinners perish then through their own wilfulness? Yes: I have called, and ye have refused,
Prov. 1:24
. Does the Spirit in effectual calling overcome this aversion? Yes: With loving kindness have I drawn thee,
Jer. 31:3
. Does he persuade us to embrace this offer? Yes: For every man that hath heard, and learned of the Father, cometh unto me,
John 6:45
. Does he enable us? Yes: For you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins,
Eph. 2:1
.
Can we turn to God by any power of our own? No: for we are not sufficient of ourselves,
2 Cor. 3:5
. Is it the grace of God that turns us to him? Yes: Turn thou me, and I shall be turned,
Jer. 31:18
. Is it free grace? Yes: He went on frowardly in the way of his heart, I have seen his ways and will heal him,
Isa. 57:17–18
. Does it turn us by a work upon the will? Yes: The Lord opened the heart of Lydia,
Acts 16:14
. Is it special grace? Yes: It is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy,
Rom. 9:16
. Shall this grace be given to all the elect? Yes: All that the Father hath given me shall come unto me,
John 6:37
. Shall it be effectual? Yes: His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain,
1 Cor. 15:10
. May we. in faith pray for this grace? Yes: I will for this be inquired of by the house of Israel,
Ezek. 36:37
. Can any turn to God without this special grace? No: for no man can come to me, except the Father, which hath sent me, draw him,
John 6:44
. Must that grace therefore have all the glory? Yes: we must show forth the praises of him that hath called us,
1 Pet. 2:9
.
HenryWSC 31