again appeared in a dream to Joseph-where was Joseph at that time?

20 What did the angel tell Joseph to do? Why was Palestine called the land of Israel? What reason did the angel give, that the return of Joseph and his family would be safe?

21 Then what did Joseph do? 22 Still, it seems he was afraid to go to that part of the land of Israel called Judea-why? Then into what part did he go? And which part was that? What induced Joseph to go into Galilee ?

23 And what was the name of the place in Galilee, where Joseph and his family lived? Where was Nazareth? ANS. Nazareth was a city, west of the sea of Galilee, about sixty miles north of Jerusalem.

From this chapter, we cannot help remarking, how vain are the attempts of men to defeat the purposes of God! And "woe unto him that striveth with his Maker!"

CHAP. III.

1 THIS chapter begins with an account of the coming of John the Baptist-how did he come? And where was this wilderness? ANS. The wilderness of Judea was east of Jerusalem, and extended somewhat northwards, along the western coast of the Dead sea and the river Jordan.

2 What did John tell the people to do? And what is repenting?

ANs. Being very sorry that I have offended the great God who has been so good to me, and meaning for the time to come to do as he wishes me. Why were these people to repent? And what did John mean by the kingdom of heaven? ANs. The kingdom of heaven sometimes means the place to which all good people go when they die; but here, and in some other places in the New Testament, it means THE HOLY AND MERCIFUL GOVERNMENT OF JESUS CHRIST. 3 By whom was John spoken of, before he came? It is Isaiah, who is here called Esaias-who was Isaiah? And he prophesied more than 700 years before Christ was born-but how is it that the names of the same persons are spelt differently in the Old and New Testament? ANS. Because the Old Testament was written in the Hebrew language, and the New Testament in the Greek; and these languages are so different, that the same names cannot always be spelt alike in the two. How did Isaiah speak of John? Whom should you think he meant by the Lord?

4 It is not very important; but perhaps you can tell me what sort of dress did John wear? And what sort of food did he eat?

5 Great attention seems to have been paid to John's preachingfrom what parts did his hearers come? Point out these places in the map.

6 And what religious ordinance did John perform on the people? Where did he baptize them? In what direction did the Jordan flow? And what is it said the people did, at the time they were baptized?

7 But John objected to some who came to him-what were they? What were Pharisees? ANS. The Pharisees were a religious sect among the Jews, very numerous, rich, and powerful: they pretended to be more holy than all other sects; though most of them were very great hypocrites. And what were Sadducees? ANS. The Sadducees were a famous sect among the Jews; but not so numerous as the Pharisees: they did not believe that the soul will live after the body is dead, or that the body will ever be raised from the grave. And John knew how deceitful and dangerous these Pharisees and Sadducees were so what did he call them? And what question did he ask them? 8 Many people say they repent, when they do not-but what did John tell these Pharisees and Sadducees to do?

9 That is, fruits which would prove their repentance to be real-in the 9th verse, against what did John caution these Pharisees and Sadducees? And what should we learn from this? ANs. Not to think, if we have pious parents, that we are therefore either better or safer than other children: indeed, unless we our

selves are Christians, that would only increase our guilt and condemnation.

10 What becomes of such trees as do not bear good fruit? But John meant this to apply to men— to whom, think you?

11 What kind of baptism was John's? But John speaks of one coming after him-whom do you think he means? And what kind of baptism was his? Who was the greatest-John, or he who came after him?

12 What, in the 12th verse, does John say of Jesus? He did not mean, however, to speak of a person with a winnowing fan, dividing real wheat from chaff what sort of people, think you, did he mean by wheat? And what do you think he meant by the garner? What sort of people are meant by chaff? And what is said of the fire, or the punishment which such characters must endure? What does unquenchable mean?

13 After what John had said to these Pharisees and Sadducees, it is most likely they went away offended--but who came to him afterwards? From what part of Palestine did Jesus come? And what part was that? For what purpose did Jesus come to John?

14 But John objected-why? 15 Notwithstanding that, Jesus still wished John to baptize him→ what reason did he give for this? Then what did John do?

16 After Jesus had been baptized, something very remarkable happened-what?

17 And there was a voice from heaven-whose voice should you think it was? And what did God say of Jesus? Then is it not right, think you, that we should love the Lord Jesus Christ, and be wellpleased with his way of salvation?

CHAP. IV.

1 OUR last lesson ended with an account of the honour shown to Jesus at his baptism: after that, it seems, he was led up into some lonely, dismal place, perhaps the wilderness of Judea for what purpose was he influenced to go thither!

2 While Jesus was in the wilderness, he fasted a long time -how long? And what was the consequence?

3 Then the devil came to him, to tempt him-and what did the tempter say?

4 That must have been a strong temptation to one who had fasted so long, and was able to work miracles; yet Jesus would not yield-what reason did he give for

6 Having placed Jesus on a pinnacle, or battlement, of the temple, what did the tempter desire him to do? And some of these battlements were so high, that a person could not even look down from them without feeling giddy-so what reason did the devil assign, that Jesus might throw himself down with safety?

7 But that was said only about such things as Jesus approved ofwhat reply did Jesus make? Then did Jesus mean that he was the Lord God, and so rebuked the devil for tempting him? ANs. No: for though he was God, he was man also; and he meant, that, as man, HE ought not to tempt God, by throwing himself from the temple.

8 That temptation failing, whither did the devil take Jesus next? What did he show him there?

9 And he offered to give all these to Jesus-but what did he want Jesus to do first? That was very impudent-but could the devil give Jesus these things? ANs. No: it is very common for Satan, in order to entice us to sin, to hold out a great advantage to us, which it is not in his pomer to give; and if he could give it, it would certainly be a great curse to us.

10 What reply did Jesus make to this impudent proposal? Then did Jesus mean that he was the Lord God, and that therefore Satan ough to worship him? ANS. No: he meant

that, as man, HE ought to worship none but God: and that therefore he could not think of doing as the devil wished him.

11 After this, what did Satan do? Then who came to Jesus? And what did they do? What does ministered mean?

12 Now we find Jesus publicly entering on his work-what had he heard? Yes, and when we come to the fourteenth chapter, we shall read all about the imprisonment of John-but what John was this? When Jesus heard of the imprisonment of John, whither did he go? What past of Palestine was that?

13 And for some time,Jesus lived at Nazareth-where wasNazareth? (See on Chap. ii. 23.) On leaving Nazareth, where did Jesus live? And where was Capernaum? What sea is here spoken of? ANs. The sea of Galilee: sometimes called the sea of Tiberias, and sometimes the lake of Genezareth: and when THE SEA is mentioned by Matthew, or either of the other Evangelists, without any other description, it generally means THIS sea. And what parts are meant by Zabulon and Nephthalim? ANS.

Those parts of Palestine which were inhabited by the descendants of Zebulon and Naphthali, two of Jacob's sons. Who was Jacob?

14 In our Lord's living in that part of the country, a prophecy was fulfilled-by whom was it spoken ?

?

15, 16 What did Isaiah say 17 When Jesus began to preach, what did he tell the people to do? What is repenting? (See on Chap. iii. 2.) And why were these people to repent? But what did Jesus mean by the kingdom of heaven? (See on Chap. iii. 2.) There was some one before, who preached just like this-can you tell me who?

18 One day, as Jesus was walking by the sea of Galilee, whom, in particular, did he see there? What were they doing? How came they to be casting nets into the sea?

19 That is, they were fishers by trade-on seeing them, what did Jesus tell them to do? And what did he say he would make them? If you cannot tell me, I will tell you-but what do you think Jesus meant by fishers of men?

20 Some people, who do not absolutely say they will not become Christians, yet wish to be excused just now-but in what way did these two men act, when Jesus called them?

21 Going farther on, whom did Jesus see? Where were they? With whom were they? were they doing? Jesus do?

What And what did

22 Jesus having invited these young men to follow him, in what way did they act? It is very likely that Peter and Andrew, and James and John, had been disciples before

this, and that at this time Jesús called them to the more public duties of religion-what may we learn from their promptness in obeying the call? ANS. Not only to attend to the commands of Christ, but to attend to them Now, without any delay.

23 Travelling about Galilee, in what kind of places did Jesus preach? What were synagogues? ANS. Places in which the Jews used to meet for public worship; such as what are now called churches and chapels and meeting-houses. What did Jesus do besides preaching?

24 And it seems this was very much talked of-where? Where was Syria? ANs. Syria was just above, or to the north of Palestine; though sometimes it is considered to be a part of it. And when the people of Syria knew what Jesus could do, and how very kind he was, what did they do? And in what way did Jesus show kindness to these people?

25 As might be expected, great multitudes followed him-from what parts did they come? Can you find these parts in the map? So, you see, no sooner was the kindness of Jesus in healing the diseases of the body known, than it was desired and eagerly sought after let us learn from this, to desire, and immediately seek after, the blessings of his gospel, which can heal the diseases of the soul.

CHAP. V.

READ the last verse of the fourth chapter.

1 And seeing so many people, whither did Jesus go? Then who in particular came to him?

2 And what did Jesus do in this mountain?

3 What follows, in this and the next two chapters, is commonly called the sermon on the mountwho, in the 3d verse, are said to be blessed? That means, those who are spiritually poor, those who see their need of heavenly richesin what way are such characters blessed?

4 Who, in the 4th verse, are said to be blessed? Yet not all mourners, but those who grieve because they are sinners-how will such be blessed?

5 Who, in the 5th verse, are said to be blessed? That is, those who, like the Saviour, are meek and lowly in heart; who are patient under sufferings, and unwilling to résent every trifling injury-but what blessing belongs to the meek? And is that really true? ANS. Most certainly it is; for though many of them have but little of this world's good, yet they enjoy that little much more than proud men enjoy all their riches.

6 Who, in the 6th verse, are said to be blessed? And what kind of blessing is theirs?