The worship which directs itself toward God as our good regards him either as he is ours at present, in faith, or as he is to be ours, in hope.
Hearing here, therefore, means any receiving of the word of God whether it be communicated to us by preaching, reading, or any other way.
The world has not been in existence from eternity nor could it have been according to the present dispensation and ordering of things.
For this is our most perfect duty and yet least known to us by nature: Whatever we conceive or will should be joined with the good of our neighbor.
But the church cannot confer the necessary gifts for this ministry, and cannot prescribe for God those upon whom he should confer them.
The counsel of God is, as it were, his deliberation over the best manner of accomplishing anything already approved by the understanding and the will.