A. Gideon and Japhthah, Sampson, Eli and Samuel, 56. Q. Who governed the people of Israel after the judges?

A. They desired a king like other nations, and God bade Samuel anoint Saul to be the first of their kings. 57. Q. How did Saul behave himself?

A. He governed well for a little time, but afterwards he rebelled against God, and God removed him.

58. Q. What became of Saul at last ?

A. Being forsaken of God, and being wounded in battle by the Philistines, he fell on his own sword, and died.

59. Q. Who was the second king of Israel?

A. David, who was raised to the kingdom from keeping sheep.

60. Q. What was David's character?

A. He was a prophet, and a man after God's own heart; who delivered Israel from their enemies, and ruled them well.

61. Q. But was not David guilty of some great sins ? A. Yes, and God punished him for them in the great troubles he met with in his family.

62. Q. Who was the third king of Israel ?

A. Solomon, the son of David, who was the wisest of

men.

63. Q. What did Solomon do for God, and for the people?

A. He built a very glorious temple for the worship of God at Jerusalem, and he raised the nation of Israel to heir highest glory.

64. Q. What became of the people of Israel in following ages?

A. They were divided into two kingdoms, which were called the kingdom of Judah and the kingdom of Israel.

65. Q. How did they behave themselves toward God, after this division?

A. Most of their kings, as well as the people, provok ed God by their idols, and their great wickedness.

66. Q. How did God punish them for these crimes ?

A. When they would not hearken to the prophets, which God sent among them, they were carried away captive by their enemies, into the land of Assyria.

67. Q. Did they never return again to their own land? A. Yes, after seventy years' captivity, the tribes of Judah returned, with many of Benjamin and Levi, and they were called Jews.

68. Q. What did they do at their return?

A. They built the city Jerusalem and the temple. again, and they set up the worship of the true God.

69. Q. Did they continue afterward to obey God, and dwell in their own land?

A. Though they were guilty of many sins, yet they never fell to the worship of idols again: nor were they ever wholly driven again out of their own land till after the coming of the Messiah, the Saviour.

MORNING PRAYER.

ALMIGHTY GOD, Thou art the greatest and the best of Beings. 1 bless Thee, that Thou hast made me, that Thou constantly preservest me, and that Thou hast sent thy Son into the world, to redeem and save me. I thank Thee, gracious God, for thy kind care over me the last night, and for the pleasant light of this morning. I now humbly look up to Thee for thy blessing. Take the charge of me, I beseech Thee, this day. Save me from all harm, especially from sin; and keep me in thy fear all the day long. I desire to be a child of God. O make me one of thy own children. Guide me with thy counsel while I am in this world, and afterward receive me to glory, for the sake of Jesus Christ, my Redeemer. Amen.

EVENING PRAYER.

O LORD, my God, Thou art good and dost good continually. I thank and praise Thee for thy goodness to me the day past. I confess before Thee, with sorrow and shame, the sins and follies of the past day, and of my whole life; and earnestly implore thy forgiveness. Be pleased, heavenly Father, who never slumberest nor sleepest, to take charge of me this night, and bring me in safety to the light of another morning. While I sleep, I am under thine eye; and when I awake, I am still with Thee. O grant, that whether I go out, or come in, whether I lie down, or rise up, I may remember Thee, and fear Thee, and be favoured with thy divine blessing, through Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer. Amen.

HISTORY OF THE

NEW TESTAMENT.

1. Quest. WHO was the Messiah, the Saviour of

mankind ?*

A. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was sent down. from heaven to save sinners.

2. Q. How did he come into the world?

A. God prepared a body for him, and he took flesh and blood and was born of a woman.

3. Q What notices were given of the coming of Christ the Saviour?

A. Many promises had been given of him in former ages, by the prophets, and more lately by an angel,

4. Q. What did the prophets foretel concerning the coming of Christ?

A. Among many other things, they declared, that at Saviour should be born of the stock of Abraham, of the house of David, and in the town of Bethlehem.

5. Q. How did an angel give notice of his coming? A. The angel Gabriel foretold the birth of John the Baptist, to prepare the way for Christ, and he told the mother of Jesus that she should bring forth the Son of God.

6. Q. Who was the mother of Christ ?

A. Mary, a virgin of the house of David.

7. Q: Who was the supposed father of Christ ?

A. Joseph, the carpenter, was supposed to be his father, because he married his mother Mary..

8. Q. What further witness was given to Christ in his infancy?

A. By angels from heaven, by wise men from the East, and by Simeon in the Temple.

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* As the historical part of the Old Testament begins with this question, Who is the Maker of the world? so the historical part of the New Testament may properly begin, Who is the Se Tour 2

6*

9. Q. How did angels bear witness to him?

A. They sung praise to God in the air at his birth, and told the shepherds that they should find the child Jesus in a manger at Bethlehem.

10. Q. What witness did the wise men of the East bear to Jesus?

A. They saw a strange star in the East, which led them to the house where the infant lay, and they came and worshipped him.

11. Q. What honour did Simeon do him in the Temple ? A. He was an old man, yet God assured him that he should see the Saviour before he died, and he took Jesus, in his arms, and acknowledged him to be the Saviour.

12. Q. What is written concerning the childhood of Christ?

A. At twelve years old he was found talking with the Doctors in the temple, but he went home at his mother's call and was subject to his parents.

13. Q. When did Christ begin his public ministry ?

A. At thirty years of age he came forth and was baptized by John, who was sent from God to preach and to baptize with water.

14. Q. What was the doctrine, which John the Bap. tist preached?

A. He reproved sinners, he preached repentance and the forgiveness of sins; and he directed his disciples to Jesus as the Saviour.

15. Q. What became of John the Baptist at last?

A. He was beheaded by Herod at the wicked request of his niece, when she had pleased him with her fine dancing.

16.Q. What honour was done to Christ at his baptism? A. The Spirit of God like a dove descended upon him, and a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is beloved son, in whom I am well pleased."

my

17. Q. What became of Christ immediately after his baptism?

A. He was forty days in the wilderness, where he endured the temptations of the devil, and overcame the tempter.

18. Q. What were the chief parts of the ministry of Christ, in his life?

A. These five, viz.*

1. He fulfilled the whole law, and gave us a perfect rule of piety toward God, and goodness to men.

2. He preached to the people nis divine doctrine, which he brought from heaven.

3. He wrought miracles to prove that he was sent from God.

4. He chose out his apostles, and trained them up for their public service.

5. He appointed two lasting ordinances in his church. 19. Q. Wherein did he give an example of piety toward God?

A. In his constant obedience to God, his Father, in all things, in his zeal for God's honour among men, and in his frequent converse with God in prayer.

20. Q. Wherein did he show a pattern of goodness toward men?

A. He went about doing good to the bodies and souls of men, he was full of compassion to the miserable, he took children in his arms and blessed them.

21. Q. What were the chief subjects of Christ's preaching to the people?

A These six things:

1. He explained the law of God to the people, and showed them that it required holiness in their thoughts, as well as in their words and actions.

2. He reproved and condemned many for their sinful and foolish traditions, and taught them that God did not regard ceremonies, so much as the great duties of love to God and love to men.

3. He preached the gospel of pardon of sin, and

There are some answers which are divided into distinct parts by figures (1,) (2,) (3,) (4.) Now in order to make the remembrance of these answers easier to children, the teacher may repeat the question as often as there are parts in the answers thus, Q. Which is the first part of his ministry? Q. Which is the second, &c.