A. The angel Gabriel appeared to Zecharias while he was offering incense in the Temple, and the people were praying without, and told him that he should have a son, and should call his name John, Luke i. 9, &c.

8Q. What sign did the angel give of the truth of his message?

A. That Zecharias should be dumb, and not able to speak till John was born, ver. 20.

9 Q. What honour was done to Elizabeth while she was with child of her son?

A. The Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, made a visit to her, and they both rejoiced and praised God together in a divine rapture, Luke i. 39-55.

10 Q. When was Zecharias released from his dumbness, and had his voice restored to him?

A. When his wife brought forth a son, and they were going to circumcise the child, he wrote his name John on a table, and then his tongue was loosed, and he spake the praises of God, ver. 5964.

11 Q. Where was John brought up?

A. In the desart country or wilderness of Judea, and there also he began his public ministry when he was about thirty years of age, ver. 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 aud 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 way of the Lord, according to the prophecy of Isaiah, John i. 20. 23. Isa. xl. 3.

say,

the

18 Q. But does not Jesus Christ himself 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 Elijah, 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, i. 6. and ix. 13. Matt. xiv. 3.

Mark

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 with 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. 21-34. 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, ver. 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 disciples of Jesus, ver. 12.

CHAPTER XXII.

Of the Birth and Childhood of Jesus Christ.

1 Q. 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 chap. 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

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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 Isa. 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 y. 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