(RECAP) Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1840. BY MELANCTHON W. JACQBUS, m the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District o New York. PREFACE. THE object of this new QUESTION BOOK, is, to incorporate the Catechetical exercise with the ordinary Scripture Lessons. The plan is, to ask the doctrinal questions in the form of the Westminster Catechism. poses. 1st. It calls attention to the doctrine of the Gospel narratives in a way to unfold and enforce it. 2d. Instead of making the Catechism altogether a separate study, and using it only as a book quite distinct from the Scripture, this plan brings it into its proper connexion and use. It makes the Scripture passage illustrate the answers of the Catechism, and uses the Catechism as exhibiting the teachings of Scripture. Catechising becomes, thus, a part of every Scripture Lesson, instead of an exercise by itself. The Gospel is studied in a way to adduce constant and varying elucidations and proofs of the Catechism, which must be more natural and forcible than a dry collection of proof texts. And, by having the questions and answers of this excellent summary applied to the Gospel itself, and studied with it, the whole system of Scripture truth is brought to view, and the teaching is necessarily more complete. (See Lesson I., 21-23.)' The Catechetical exercise is made more attractive and more profitable by the pleasing variety introduced, and by the new interest imparted, through the narratives. (See Lesson L., vss. 15, 16 and 21. Lesson LI., vss. 34, &c.) This method serves important pur And it is pleasant to observe, that, in the study of the Gospel, by these Lessons, the 332191 entire Catechism is gone over, and many of the questions are repeatedly brought to view, with every variety of illustration. Youth, who have learned the Catechism in childhood, are here advanced to the second stage of instruction, in which, at once, those answers are opened and impressed upon the mind, and the scripture is elucidated. Another feature of this Question Book is the new method of exhibiting the Harmony of the Four Gospels, and the Chronological rder of the passages. This is done by a new method of notation, where the sections of the History are noted and numbered as they occur. The No. of the section shows the order of eau in the History, and the arrangement into sections calls attention to the subjects and events. The "Notes" referred to, are "Jacobus's Notes on the Gospels." BROOKLYN, N. Y., March, 1849. MATTHEW.. LESSON I. The Birth of Christ. MATT. I. 1-25. How many histories of the Lord Jesus are there in the New Testament? What are the writers commonly called? How far do they all relate the same things? Who was Matthew, the author of this Gospel? (See Matt. ix. 9.) Which of the four Evangelists were Apostles? What is the meaning of the word Gospel? 1. What is our Lord here called? What is the meaning of the name Jesus? Why was He called Christ? How was He the Son of David and of Abraham? Why was it important to trace back His descent to these persons? 2-15. What is this table of names called? What is the meaning of the word Genealogy? CHAPTER I. 1 THE book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2 Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; 3 And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begai Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; 4 And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; 5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; 6 And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that that been the wife of Urias; 7 And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa; 8 And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias; 9 And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achax begat Ezekias; In whose line of descent is Christ here traced? (ver. 16.) Who is the Redeemer of God's elect? What paragraph is next in order? (§ 7.) 18. Who was the mother of Jesus? How did Christ the Son of God become man? In what other passages of Scripture is Mary the mother of Christ mentioned ? Is there any Scriptural authority for praying to her, or wor shipping her? What texts prove that to pay her divine honour, or to pray for her mediation, is idolatry To whom was Mary espoused? What is meant by this, and what was the custom at that time 1 19. What was the character of Joseph ? What is meant by just in this conncxion? 20. Who revealed to him the future birth of Christ? How was this revealed? Was this mode of revelation common? 10 And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amou; and Amon begat Josias ; 11 And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon: 12 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel; 13 And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor; 14 And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; 15 And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; 16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. 17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations. 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. |