the Prophecy of Facob, the Saviour of the World was afterwards to fpring. David, by GoD's fpecial Appointment, was anointed with holy Oyl, and all other Kings after him were confecrated in the fame folemn Manner; from which Custom they were called Chriftoi, that is to fay, anointed. David for a long Time was perfecuted by Saul, and was engaged in feveral bloody Battles with the Infidels, or Unbelievers. GoD, in short, raifed him above all his Enemies, and loaded him with Honour and Riches: His Metropolitan City was Ferufalem, where he erected a ftately Palace on Mount Sion; and order'd the Ark of the Covenant to be lodged therein. He propofed to build a Temple likewife; but Gob informed him, that that Honour was referved for his Son; that his Pofterity fhould reign for ever over the People of Gov, and that from him should deicend the Saviour who was promised from the Beginning of the World, and fhould reign, not only over the Houfe of Ifrael, but over all the Nations of the Earth: That fuch Saviour should be the Son of GoD, and at the fame Time the Son of David: That he fhould be defpifed, and perfecuted by Men; but that afterwards he fhould reclaim all Nations, and bring them to the Knowledge and Worship of the True Gon. The Ifraelites from thenceforth called the Saviour whom they expected the King, the

Son

Son of David; and fometimes the Meffiah, or the Chrift.

The CATECHISM.

Q.BY whom were the Ifraelites govern'd

after their Entrance into the Land

of Promife?

A. First by Judges, and afterwards by

Kings.

Q. Who was their first King?

A. Saul.

Q. Who was their fecond?
A. David.

Q. Of what Tribe was he?
A. Of the Tribe of Judah.

Q. What particular Ceremony was obferved at his Coronation?

A. He was anointed, by God's Special Appointment, with holy Oyl; which was afterwards the ftated Form of Confecration.

Q. Which was his moft ufual Place of Refidence?

A. His Palace on Mount Sion, in the City of Jerufalem.

Q. Where did he caufe the Ark of the Covenant to be carry'd?

A. Into his own Palace.

Q. What did GoD promise him in the firft Place?

A. That his Pofterity should reign for ever over the People of GOD, Q. What

Q. What further Promife did he make him?

A. That the Saviour of the World Should be lineally defcended from him.

Q. What Names or Titles did the Ifraelites afterwards give to that Saviour?

A. The King, the Son of David, and Sometimes the Meffiah, or the Chrift.

LESSON X.

Of the Schifm of Samaria.

Olomon, who fucceeded his Father David, was a Type or Figure of the Meffiah in his Glory; as David had been before of the Meffiah in his Tryals and Afflictions. Solomon, during his whole Reign, lived in perfect Peace and Tranquility, was bleffed with endless Riches, and poffefs'd of all the Enjoyments this Life could afford him; but what was ftill his greater Felicity, Gon endued him with true Wifdom and Underftanding for the Direction of his Conduct. He caufed a Temple to be erected at Ferufalem according to his Father's Plan. The Ark of the Covenant was depofited therein, and there they offer'd up all their Sacrifices. There was no other Temple but this; and the Law peremptorily directed, that there fhould be no other Altar, to in

timate,,

timate, that there was but one GOD, and one true Religion. At length Solomon impaired his Understanding, by an over eager Purfuit after fenfual Enjoyments; and his ftrange Wives and Concubines, whom he too paffionately admir'd, hurry'd him into the impious Act of adoring Idols. As a juft Punishment due to his Demerits, his Kingdom, after his Deceafe, was rent in Pieces. The two Tribes only of Judah and Benjamin proved stedfaft and loyal to his Son Rehoboam; the other ten revolted, and acknowledg'd Feroboam as their King, who was of the Tribe of Ephraim. That Prince, in Order to foment ftill greater Divifions between his Subjects and thofe of the King of Judah, and to prevent them from going to Jerufalem, established a new Religion amongst them, and erected golden Calves; which, by his exprefs Commands, were worshipped thro' out all his Dominions. Thus there was a a Schifm created, that is to fay, a Divifion which rent the Church of GoD in Pieces. The true Church ftill continued at Ferufalem, but the falfe one was firft eftablished. at Sichem, and afterwards at Samaria, which was the Metropolitan of the Kingdom of Ifrael, or Ephraim.

The

The CATECHISM.

QWHO
HO was David's Succeffor ?

A. His Son Solomon.

Q. How did he reign?

A. In Peace and Tranquillity, and in full Poffeffion of all the Enjoyments this Life could afford him.

Q. What more valuable Bleffing was further beftowed upon him?

A. That of true Wisdom and UnderStanding

Q. What ftately Edifice did he erect ?
A. The Temple of Jerufalem.

Q. Was there no other Temple where GOD was worshipped?

A. No, there was but one Temple, and one Altar.

Q. Why fo?

A. To intimate, that there was but one GOD, and one Religion.

Q Was Solomon wife and prudent to the laft?

A. No; his too paffionate Fondness for Strange Women quite perverted his Fudg

ment.

Q. What happen'd after his Death? A. His Kingdom was rent in Pieces. Q. What Part of it prov'd ftedfast and loyal to Solomon's Son ?

A. Only the two Tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Q. Who