CHAP. XXII.

Of the Birth and Childhood of JESUS

CHRIST.

A.

IQ. WHO was Jefus Chrift? 4. 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 Jefus Chrift fignify? A. Jefus (which is his proper Name) fignifies a Saviour; and Chrift is the fame in Greek that Meffiah is in Hebrew, which fignifies his being anointed, or appointed to that Office, Matth. i. 21. John i. 41. Pfal. ii. 2.

3Q. 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 i. 1, 2, 14.

4 Q. In what manner did he come into this World? A. He laid afide his Glory, he took a Body of Flesh and Blood, which God had prepared for him, and was born of Mary, who was a Virgin, according to the Prophecy of Ifaiah, Phil. ii. 7. Heb. ii. 14. and x. 5. Matth. i. 20, 23. Ifai. vii. 14.

5 Q. Who was this Mary the Mother of Jefus Chrift? A. She was a poor young Woman of the Family of David, who was espoused to, or had confented to marry Jofeph, a Carpenter, who was alfo of the Houfe of David, that Royal Family being then fallen into decay, Matth. i. 18, 20. Luke i. 32. Matth. xiii. 55.

6 Q. Did Jofeph marry her afterwards? A. Jofeph 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, Mat.. i. 20.

7 Q. What Notice had Mary that he should have fuch a Son? A. The Angel Gabriel was fent to her at Nazareth, where the dwelt, to affure her that the Power of the moft high God fhould over-fhadow her, and that the fhould bring forth a Child who fhould be called the Son of God, Luke i. 26-35

8 Q. How was Mary further encouraged in this Hope? A. While fhe was with Child with her Son Jefus, he went to vifit her Coufin Elizabeth, who was then with Child with John the Baptift; Elizabeth faluted her as the Mother of the Meffiah, and they were both infpired to praise the Lord with divine Raptures, Luke i. 39-55.

9 Q. Where was Jefus Chrift born? A. In Bethlehem, the City of David, according to the Prophecy of Micah, Luke ii. 4. Matth. ii. 5, 6. Micah v. 2.

10 Q. How came Mary to lie-in at Bethlehem? A. Auguftus Cæfar, the Emperor, had decreed to tax or register all the World; and Jofeph being of the House of David, went up with Mary, his efpoufed Wife, to be regiftred or taxed in Bethlehem the City of David, Luke ii. 1-5.

IIQ. What Provifions were made for her there? A. A poor Provifion indeed; there was no Room for them in the Inn, fhe was lodged in a Stable, and when he brought forth her Son, fhe laid him in the Manger, Luke vii. 2.

12 Q. What Jpecial Notices were given that this Child was the Meffiah, or Chrift the King of If

N 5

rael?

rael? A. Many Notices were given of it by Angels and Men, by Jews and Gentiles.

13Q. What Notice was given by Angels that Chrift was born? A. An Angel appeared to fome Shepherds by Night, and fent them to find the Babe in a Manger at Bethlehem, Luke ii. 8—16.

14 Q. What foy was shown among the Angels upon this Occafion? A. A Multitude of the heavenly Hoft praised God, faying, Glory to God in the Higheft, Peace on Earth, and Good-will towards Men: and this the Shepherds heard, ver. 13, 14.

15 Q. What Teftimonies were given to Jefus Chrift in his Infancy by any of the Jews? A. When he was brought to the Temple to be circumcifed, and presented to the Lord as the First-born, Simeon and Anna, two ancient Persons among the Jews, bore witness to him, ver. 25, 36.

16 Q. What was the Witness which Simeon bore to the Infant Jefus? A. It was revealed to him that he should not die before he had feen the Meffiah; and he took Jefus up in his Arms, and faid, Now Lord, let thy Servant depart in Peace, for mine Eyes bave feen thy Salvation, ver. 26-30.

17 Q. What Witness did Anna bear to him? 4. She was an aged Widow, and a Prophetefs; fhe gave Thanks to the Lord concerning him, and fpake of him to all that looked for Redemption in Jerufalem, ver. 36-38.

18 Q. Who among the Gentiles received Notice of the Birth of Chrift?. Some wife Men in the Eaft had feen a new Star, and they had fome divine Notice that a King of the Jews was born, and they came to worship him, Matt. ii. 1, 2.

19 Q. How did they find out the Houfe where Jefus was? A. The Star went before them, and ftood over the Place where the Infant lay, ver. 9.

20 Q. What Honour did they do him? A. They fell down and worshipped him, and presented him Gold and Spices, ver. II.

21 Q. What Enemies or Dangers did Jefus meet with in his Infancy? A. Herod the Great, who then reigned in Judea, having heard from the wife Men that a King of the Jews was born, was filled with Jealousy, and thought to destroy Jefus, ver. 13.

22

3. What means did Herod use to destroy him?

A. He flew all the Children that were in or near Bethlehem, under two years old, ver. 16.

23 Q. How did the Child Jefus efcape? A. Jofeph, his fuppofed Father, was warned by an Angel to take the young Child and his Mother and fee into Egypt, ver. 13.

24 Q. When did Jefus return into the Land of Ifrael? A. When 'Herod was dead, God fent a Meffage by an Angel, in a Dream, to command Jofeph and Mary to return with him; fo they returned into Galilee, and dwelt in Nazareth, their City, ver. 19-23.

25 Q Was there any thing further remarkable in the Childhood of Jefus? A. When he was twelve: Years old he went up with his Parents to the Paffover, according to their Cuftom; but when they returned, they miffed their Son, Luke ii. 41, 42, 43.

26 Q. Where did they find him? A. They turned back to Jerufalem, and after three days they found him in the Temple, in the midft of the Doctors, both hearing them, and afking them Queftions, ver. 45, 46.

27 Q. What Reafon did the Child Jefus give for bis Conduct? A. He told them, that they might have fuppofed he was about his Father's Bufinefs:

but

but he went down with them to Nazareth, where he spent the rest of his Childhood, and was subject to his Parents, Luke ii. 49-51.

28 Q. How did Jefus employ his younger Years? A. It is reported by the Ancients, that he was brought up to his Father's Trade, who was a Country Carpenter, and that he made Ploughs and Yokes for Oxen; for Jefus himself is called a Carpenter, Mark vi. 3.

CHA P. XXIII.

Of the publick Life and Miniftry of CHRIST.

INTRODUCTION.

His Preparation for his publick Work.

1 Q. AT what Age did Jefus begin to appear in publick? A. About thirty Years of

Age, Luke iii. 23.

2 Q. How was he prepared for his public Work? A. He was eminently prepared for it by his Baptifm, by the Defcent of the Holy Spirit on him, by his Retirement and his Temptations, Luke i

and iv.

3Q. When was Jefus Chrift baptized? A. When John the Baptift was fent with a Commiffion to baptize Men, Jefus offered himself at the River Jordan to be baptized, that he might fulfill all Righteoufnefs, though he had no need to be washed from Sin, Mat, iii. 14, 15.

4Q: What Teftimony did he receive from John the Baptift? A. John declared that Jefus was the Lamb