A. In the desert country, or wilderness of Judea, and there also he began his public ministry, when he was about thirty years of age; verse 80. and Luke iii. 2.

12 Q. What was his chief commission from God?

A. He was sent to preach the doctrine of repentance and forgiveness of sins; to baptize or wash with water those who professed their repentance, and to direct the people to Christ as the Saviour; Mark i. 4, 5. John i. 26, 31.

13 Q. What further instructions did he give to the people?

A. He bid them not trust in their being the children of Abraham, he taught them lessons of love and liberality, to give food and clothing to those who wanted, and he gave special directions to the Pharisees and Sadducees, to the publicans and the soldiers who came to be baptized; Matt. iii. 7, 8. Luke iii. 7—14.

14 Q. What directions did he give to the Pharisees and Sadducees?

A. He bid them bring forth fruits in their lives, to make their repentance appear, as well as profess it with their lips; Matt. iii. 7, 8.

15 Q. What advice did he give the publicans or tax-gatherers?

A. To exact or demand no more money of the people than what was appointed; Luke iii. 13.

16 Q. And what was his counsel to the soldiers?

A. To do violence or injury to none, to accuse no person falsely, and to be content with their pay; Luke iii. 14.

17 Q. What did he say concerning himself?

A. That he was not the Christ, nor the very prophet Elias risen from the dead, but that he was only come as a voice in the wilderness, to prepare the way of the Lord, according to the prophecy of Isaiah; Luke i. 20-23. Isaiah xl. 3.

18 Q. But does not Jesus Christ himself say that John was Elias or Elijah?

A. Yes, because he came in the spirit and power of Elias, to prepare the way for Christ, according to the sense of the prophet Malachi; Mal. iv. 5. Luke i. 17. Matt. xvii. 12, 13.

19 Q. Wherein did he imitate or look like Elias or Elijah?

A. That he wore a garment of hair; that he lived an austere life, like Elijahı, in the wilderness; that he came to begin a reformation among the Jews, as Elias did, when they were greatly corrupted; and he reproved Herod, as Elias reproved Ahab; Mark ix. 13. and i. 6 Matt. xiv. 3.

20 Q. What did he say concerning Jesus Christ?

A. He declared, that though Jesus came after him, yet he was not worthy to bear his shoes; that he only baptized with water, but Jesus would baptize with the Holy Ghost and fire; and he pointed him out in the midst of the people, "This is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world;" John i. 29–34. Matt. iii. 11.

21 Q. How did he come to know Jesus Christ?

A. He had some notice given him privately from God, and he had a further public sign from heaven to confirm his knowledge of him.

22 Q. What was that public sign?

A. When Jesus was baptized by John at the river Jordan, the Holy Ghost came down like a dove, and rested upon him, as God had foretold him; Matt. iii. 16, 17. and John i.

31-33.

23 Q. Did the disciples of John immediately leave him, and follow Jesus?

A. No, for Jesus had not then begun his public ministry.

24 Q. How did John further recommend Jesus Christ to his disciples?

A. Some time after he sent them to see the miracles that Jesus wrought, that they might be convinced that he was the Messiah; Matt. xi, 6.

25 Q. What became of John the Baptist?

A. He was cast into prison by Herod, because he reproved him for taking Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; Matt. xiv. 3, 4.

26 Q. Did not Herod hear John preach sometimes, and reformed some of his evil practices upon it?

A. Yes, he did; and yet he was persuaded to put him to death at last, to satisfy the malice and revenge of this wicked woman; Mark vi. 20—29.

27 Q. How came this to pass?

A. Upon Herod's birth-day the daughter of Herodias pleased the king so well with her dancing, that he promised to give her whatever she asked; and her mother bid her ask for John the Baptist's head in a dish; Matt. xiv. 6-8.

28 Q. And did Herod then comply with this bloody request?

A. Yes, for he had sworn to it before a great deal of company, and rather than break his rash and sinful oath, he would kill a prophet of God; Matt. xiv. 9—11.

29 Q. What became of the body of John the Baptist?

A. His disciples took it up and buried it; verse 12.

30 Q. Whither did his disciples go afterward?

A. They went and told Jesus what had befallen their master, and probably they became the diciples of Jesus; verse 12.

CHAPTER XXII.

OF THE BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD OF JESUS CHRIST.

1 QUESTION.

WHO was Jesus Christ?

A. The Son of God, who came into this world to be the Saviour of men; 1 John iv. 14. John iii. 17.

2 Q. What does the name Jesus Christ signify?

A. Jesus, which is his proper name, signifies a Saviour; and Christ is the same in Greek that Messiah is in Hebrew, which signifies his being anointed, or appointed to that office; Matt. i. 21. John i. 41. Psalm ii. 2.

3 Q. Where did he dwell before he came into this world?

A. He dwelt with God his Father in a very glorious state before this world was made; John xvii. 5. and i. 1, 2, 14.

4 Q. In what manner did he come into this world?

A. He laid aside his glory, he took a body of flesh and blood, which God had prepared for him, and was born of Mary, who was a virgin according to the prophecy of Isaiah; Phil. ii. 7. Heb. ii. 14. and x. 5. Matt. i. 20, 23. Isaiah vii. 14.

5 Q. Who was this Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ?

A. She was a poor young woman of the family of David, who was espoused to, or had consented to marry Joseph, a carpenter, who was also of the house of David, that royal family being then fallen into decay; Matt. i. 18, 20. Luke i. 32. Matt. xiii. 55.

6 Q. Did Joseph marry her afterwards?

A. Joseph was admonished by an angel of God to marry her without fear, because the child that was formed in her was by the Spirit of God; Matt. i. 20.

7 Q. What notice had Mary that she should have such a son?

A. The angel Gabriel was sent to her at Nazareth, where she dwelt, to assure her, that the power of the Most High God should overshadow her, and that she should bring forth a child who should be called the "Son of God;" Luke i. 26—35.

8 Q. How was Mary further encouraged in this hope?

A. While she was with child with her son Jesus, she went to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who was then with child with John the Baptist; Elizabeth saluted her as the mother of the Messiah, and they were both inspired to praise the Lord with divine raptures; Luke i. 39-55.

9 Q. Where was Jesus Christ born?

A. In Bethlehem, the city of David, according to the prophecy of Micah; Luke ii, 4. Matt. ii. 5, 6. Micah v. 2.

10 Q. How came Mary to lie in at Bethlehem?

A. Augustus Cæsar, the emperor, had decreed to tax or register all the world; and Joseph being of the house of David, went up with Mary, his espoused wife, to be registered or taxed in Bethlehem, the city of David; Luke ii. 1—5.

11 Q. What provisions were made for her there?

A. A poor provision indeed; there was no room for them in the inn, she was lodged in a stable, and when she brought forth her son, she laid him in the manger; Luke ii. 7. 12 Q. What special notices were given that this child was the Messiah, or Christ the king of Israel?

A. Many notices were given of it by angels and men, by Jews and gentiles.

13 Q. What notice was given by angels that Christ was born?

A. An angel appeared to some shepherds by night, and sent them to find the babe in a manger at Bethlehem; Luke ii. 8—16.

14 Q. What joy was shewn among the angels upon this occasion ?

A. A multitude of the heavenly host praised God, saying, "Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, and good-will towards men:" And this the shepherds heard; verses 13, 14.

15 Q. What testimonies were given to Jesus Christ in his infancy by any of the Jews? A. When he was brought to the temple to be circumcised, and presented to the Lord as the first-born, Simeon and Anna, two ancient persons among the Jews, bore witness to him; verses 25, 36. ·

16 Q. What was the witness which Simeon bore to the infant Jesus?

A. It was revealed to him that he should not die before he had seen the Messiah; and he took Jesus up in his arms, and said, "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation;" verses 26—30.

17 Q. What witness did Anna bear to him?

A. She was an aged widow, and a prophetess; she gave thanks to the Lord concerning him, and spake of him to all that looked for redemption in Jerusalem; verses 36-38.

18 Q. Who among the gentiles received notice of the birth of Christ?

A. Some wise men in the east had seen a new star, and they had some divine notice that a king of the Jews was born, and they came to worship him; Matt. ii. 1, 2.

19 Q. How did they find out the house where Jesus was?

A. The star went before them, and stood over the place where the infant lay; verse 9. 20 Q. What honour did they do him?

A. They fell down and worshipped him, and presented him gold and spices; verse 11. 21 Q. What enemies or dangers did Jesus meet with in his infancy?

A. Herod the Great, who then reigned in Judea, having heard from the wise men, that a king of the Jews was born, was filled with jealousy, and thought to destroy Jesus;

verse 13.

22 Q. What means did Herod use to destroy him?

A. He slew all the children that were in or near Bethlehem, under two years old;

verse 15.

23 Q. How did the child Jesus escape?

A. Joseph, his supposed father, was warned by an angel to take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt; verse 13.

24 Q. When did Jesus return into the land of Israel?

A. When Herod was dead, God sent a message by an angel, in a dream, to command Joseph and Mary to return with him; so they returned into Galilee, and dwelt in Nazareth, their city; verses 19—23.

25 Q. Was there any thing further remarkable in the childhood of Jesus?

A. When he was twelve years old he went up with his parents to the passover, according to their custom; but when they returned, they missed their son; Luke ii. 41-43. 26 Q. Where did they find him?

A. They turned back to Jerusalem, and after three days they found him in the temple, in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions; verses 45, 46. 27 Q. What reason did the child Jesus give for his conduct?

A. He told them, that they might have supposed he was about his Father's business: But he went down with them to Nazareth, where he spent the rest of his childhood, and was subject to his parents; Luke ii. 49-51.

28 Q. How did Jesus employ his younger years?

A. It is reported by the ancients, that he was brought up to his father's trade, who was a country carpenter, and that he made ploughs and yokes for oxen; for Jesus himself is called a carpenter; Mark vi. 3.

CHAPTER XXIII.

OF THE PUBLIC LIFE AND MINISTRY OF CHRIST.

INTRODUCTION.-HIS PREPARATION FOR HIS PUBLIC Work.

1 QUESTION.

AT what age did Jesus begin to appear in public? Answer. About thirty years of age; Luke iii. 23. 2 Q. How was he prepared for his public work?

A. He was eminently prepared for it by his baptism, by the descent of the Holy Spirit on him, by his retirement and his temptations; Luke iii. and iv.

3 Q. When was Jesus Christ baptized?

A. When John the Baptist was sent with a commission to baptize men, Jesus offered himself at the river Jordan to be baptized, that he might fulfil all righteousness, though he had no need to be washed from sin; Matt. iii. 14, 15.

4 Q. What testimony did he receive from John the Baptist?

A. John declared that Jesus was the Lamb of God, who would take away the sins of the world; and that he himself who baptized with water was not worthy to loose the shoes of Jesus, because he was appointed to baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire; Matt. iii. 11.

5 Q. What miracle attended this baptism?

A. When Jesus came from the water, the Spirit of God like a dove descended upon him, and a voice from heaven was heard, saying, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased;" Matt. iii. 16, 17.

6 Q. Whither did he go for his retirement, after he was baptized?

A. He was led into the wilderness, not only to endure temptation, and conquer the tempter there, but probably to spend forty days in meditation and prayer, and converse with God, as Moses, before his giving the laws to Israel, spent forty days with God on mount Sinai ; Mark i. 12, 13.

7 Q. Was this the place of his contest with the tempter?

A. Yes, the devil assaulted him here with three powerful temptations; Matt. iv. 1-11. 8 Q. What was the first temptation?

A. The devil persuaded him to turn stones into bread, because he was a hungry, having fasted forty days.

9 Q. How did Christ answer him?

A. By shewing him that man doth not live by bread alone, but by the power and blessing of God; Deut. viii. 3.

10 Q. What was the second temptation?

A. The devil set him upon a pinnacle of the temple, and bid him cast himself down, for there was a promise in Psalm xci. 11. that angels should bear him up, so that he should receive no hurt.

11 Q. How did Jesus resist that temptation?

A. By shewing that we must not tempt the providence of God any way, Deut. vi. 16. and therefore we must not venture upon dangers without necessity.

12 Q. What was the third temptation?

A. The devil promised to give him all the kingdoms of this world, if Jesus would fall down and worship him.

13 Q. How was this temptation vanquished?

A. By declaring that God only was to be worshipped; Deut. vi. 13. and x. 20.

14 Q. Whence did Jesus derive his answer to these several temptations?

A. From several texts of scripture which he cited upon this occasion, and all out of the book of Deuteronomy.

15 Q. What token of honour from heaven did Christ receive in the wilderness?

A. When the devil was disappointed and vanquished, and forsook him, the angels of God came and ministered unto him.

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