Page images
PDF
EPUB

River Jordan, the Holy Ghoft came down like a Dove, and refted upon him, as God had foretold him, Matt. iii. 16, 17. and Jobni. 31-33.

23 Q. Did the Difciples of John immediately leave him, and follow Jefus ?

A. No; for Jefus had not then begun his public Ministry.

24 Q. How did John further recommend Jefus Chrift to his Difciples?

A. Some Time after he sent them to see the Miracles that Jefus wrought, that they might be convinced that he was the Meffiah, Matt. xi. 6.

25 Q. What became of John the Baptift?

4. He was caft into Prifon by Herod, becaufe he reproved him for taking Herodias, his Brother Philip's Wife, Matt.xiv. 3, 4.

26 Q. Did not Herod hear John preach fometimes, and reformed fome of his evil Practices upon it?

A. Yes, he did; and yet he was perfuaded to put him to Death at laft, to satisfy the Malice and Revenge of this wicked Woman, Markvi. 20-29. 27 Q. How came this to pass?

A. Upon Herod's Birth-day the Daughter of Herodias pleased the King fo well with her Dancing, that he promised to give her whatever fhe afked; and her Mother bid her afk for John the Baptift'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 fworn to it before a great deal of Company; and rather than break his rafh and finful Oath, he would kill a Prophet of God, Matt. xiv. 9-11.

29 Q. What became of the Body of John the Baptift? 4. His

N 5

A. His Difciples took it up and buried it, ver. 12. 30 Q. Whither did his Difciples go afterward? A. They went and told Jefus what had befallen their Mafter, and probably they became the Dif ciples of Jefus, ver. 12.

CHAP. XXII..

Of the Birth and Childhood of Jesus
CHRIST.

1QWHO 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 Jefus Chrift fignify?

A. JESUS (which is his proper Name) fignifies a Saviour; and CHRIST, is the fame in Greek that Meffiah is in Hebrew, which fignifies his being anointed, or appointed to that Office, Matt. i. 31. John i. 41. Pfalm ii. 2.

3Q 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 chap. i. 1, 2, 14.

4 Q. In what Manner did he come into this World?

A. He laid afide 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 Ifaiah, Phil. ii. 7. Heb. ii. 14. and x. 5. Matt. i. 20, 23. Isa. vii. 14. 5 Q. Who was this Mary, the Mother of Jefus Chrift?

A. She was a poor young Woman of the Family of David, who was efpoufed to, or had confented to marry Jofeph, 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 Jofeph marry her afterwards?

A. Jofeph 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 fuch a Son?

A. The Angel Gabriel was fent to her at Nazareth, where the dwelt, to affure 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 fhe was with Child with her Son Jefus, fhe went to vifit her Coufin Elifabeth, who was then with Child of John the Baptift: Elifabeth faluted her as the Mother of the Meffiah, and they were both infpired to praise the Lord with divine Raptures, Luke i. 39-55.

9Q. Where was Jefus Chrift 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. Auguftus Cæfar, the Emperor, had decreed to tax or register all the World; and Jofeph being of the House of David, went up with Mary his efpoufed Wife, to be registered or taxed in Bethlehem the City of David, Luke ii. 1--5.

11 Q. What

11 Q. What Provifion was made for her there?

A. A poor Provifion indeed: There was no Room for them in the Inn; fhe was lodged in a Stable, and when the brought forth her Son, the laid him in the Manger, Luke ii. 7.

12 Q. What special Notices were given that this Child was the Meffiah, or Christ the King of Ifrael?

A. Many Notices were given of it by Angels and Men, by Jews and Gentiles.

13Q. What Notice was given by Angels that Chrift was born?

A. An Angel appeared to fome Shepherds by Night, and fent them to find the Babe in a Manger at Bethlehem, Luke ii. 8-16.

14 Q. What Joy was fhewn among the Angels upon this Occafion?

A. A Multitude of the heavenly Hoft praifed God, faying, Glory to God in the Highest, Peace in Earth, and Good-will towards Men: And this the Shepherds heard, ver. 13, 14.

15 Q. What Teftimonies were given to Jefus Chrift in his Infancy by any of the Jews?

A. When he was brought to the Temple to be circumcifed, and prefented to the Lord as the Firft-born, Simeon and Anna, two ancient Perfons among the Jews, bore Witnefs to him, ver. 25, 26.

16 Q. What was the Witnefs which Simeon bore to the Infant Jefus ?

A. It was revealed to him that he fhould not die before he had feen the Meffiah; and he took Jefus up in his Arms, and faid, Now, Lord, let thy Servant dpart in Peace, for mine Eyes have feen thy Salvation, ver. 26-30.

17 Q What Witnefs did Anna bear to him?

A. She

[ocr errors]

A. She was an aged Widow, and a Prophetess; she gave Thanks to the Lord concerning him, and fpake of him to all that looked for Redemption" in Jerufalem, ver. 36-38.

18 Q. Who among the Gentiles received Notice of the Birth of Chrift?

A. Some wife Men in the Eaft had feen a new Star, and they had fome divine Notice that a Kingof the Jews was born, and they came to worship him, Matt. ii. I, 2.

19 Q. How did they find out the Houfe where Jelus was?

A. The Star went before them, and stood over the Place where the Infant lay, ver. 9.

20 Q. What Honour did they do him?

A. They fell down and worshipped him, and prefented him Gold and Spices, ver. II.

24 Q. What Enemies or Dangers did Jefus meet with in his Infancy?

A. Herod the Great, who then reigned in Judea, having heard from the wife Men that a King of the Jews was born, was filled with Jealousy,and thought to deftroy Jefus, ver. 13.

22 Q. What Means did Herod ufe to destroy

him?

A He flew all the Children that were in or near Bethlehem, under two Years old, ver. 16. 23 Q. How did the Child Jefus escape ?

Jofeph, his fuppofed Father, was warned by an Angel to take the young Child and his Mother and flee into Egypt, ver. 13.

24 Q. When did Jefus return into the Land of 1frael?

A. When Herod was dead, God fent a Meffage by an Angel, in a Dream, to command Jofeph and Mary to return with him; fo they re

turned

« PreviousContinue »