death? A miserable death.*

What constitutes

the most miserable death? Dying in an unpardoned state. Upon the death of Herod, what took place? "An angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt."

20. What did the angel say?

"Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel." What was the land of Israel? Canaan -afterwards called the Holy Land.

Why was it Because it was given to the children of Israel for a possession.† Who are the children of Israel? The Jews. Why were they called the children of Israel? Because they descended from Israel. Who was Israel? One of the patriarchs. What is a patriarch? The father or ruler of a family. Had Israel any other name? Yes; his original name was Jacob. Who gave

called the land of Israel?

him the name of Israel? The angel of the Lord, when he wrestled with him at Peniel.+ What reason is assigned why Joseph was to arise, and return into the land of Israel? "For they are dead which sought the young child's life." Why did the angel mention this? Lest Joseph should be afraid to return, on Herod's account.

21. Did Joseph promptly obey the command of God by his angel? Yes; "he arose and took the young

*We learn, from Church History, that Herod expired in torture, under a complication of colic, gout, and dropsy, which rendered him a terror to himself, and loathsome to every one around him. His temper became so infuriated by suffering, that five days before his death he ordered his own son, Antipater, to be executed.

+ Deut. xxxii. 49.

Gen. xxxii. 28.

Ichild and his mother, and came into the land of Israel."

22. Did he go into Judea again? "No, he was afraid to go thither." Why so? Because "he heard that Archelaus did reign in the room of his father

Herod."

the Great.

Who was Archelaus? A son of Herod

What was the character of Archelaus? He was a man of a violent spirit. Whither did Joseph go? "He turned aside into the parts of Galilee." What is Galilee? One of the districts of the Holy Land.* Who directed him to take

that course? He was warned of God in a dream, to go thither.

23. In what place did he take up his abode?

"He

Was

came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth." Nazareth a large city? No; it was a poor and mean village. In which division of the Holy Land was Nazareth? In Galilee. When Nazareth became the abode of our Saviour, in his early days, what word was fulfilled? "That which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene." Is the term Nazarene applied to Christ any where in the Old Testament? No; but the sense of it is to be found in many prophecies concerning him. What idea is conveyed by the term Nazarene? The idea of reproach, or contempt. How did Isaiah describe the contempt that would be poured on the Messiah? He is despised and rejected of men.t And how has the Psalmist represented the same

subject? In the name of the Messiah he says, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.* Was the same epithet of reproach given to the early followers of Christ? Yes; they were called the sect of the Nazarenes.† Is it surprising that the faithful followers of Christ should be reproached and derided? No? if they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household.‡ How does

the apostle Peter teach us to estimate reproaches for Christ's sake? If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you.

CHAPTER III.

What does the third Chapter of this Gospel contain? 1. THE PREACHING OF JOHN THE BAPTIST.

2. THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD.

1. What time is here specified? "In those days." What are we to understand by "those days"? The days referred to in this chapter. Who is mentioned in connexion with those days?

Baptist."

"John the Who was John the Baptist? The fore

runner of our Lord.

What do you mean by a fore

Psalm Ixix. 9.

+ Acts xxiv. 5. 1 Peter iv. 14.

Matt. x. 25.

runner? One who goes before another, to announce his approach, or to prepare the way before him. Who were the parents of John the Baptist? Zacharias and Elizabeth. Where was he born? In the hillcountry of Judea.* How much older was John the Baptist than our Lord? Six months.†

is said of John the Baptist in this verse?

What He was

What is

preaching? Proclaiming the message of God to sinners. What idea do we attach to the word wil. derness? That of a desert place.

Was this wilderness a desert place? Not entirely; for it contained a few small towns and villages.‡

"Re

2. What was the subject of John's ministry? pent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” What is repentance? A thorough change, or turning of the mind to God. How does repentance begin? In a sense of having sinned.

it. By whose

When

conviction of sin is a part of true repentance, what does it produce? Godly sorrow for sin. And, when our sorrow for sin is of a gracious kind, what will be its effects? Hatred of sin, and care to avoid agency is repentance produced in the heart of believers? By the agency of the Holy Spirit. By what motive did John urge men to repent? "For the kingdom of heaven is at hand." In how many senses is the phrase, "the kingdom of heaven," used in the New Testament? In two What are they? Sometimes it signifies

senses.

* Luke i. 39.

+ Luke i. 36.

Joshua xv. 61, 62.

Christ's church, or his spiritual reign on earth; and sometimes the heavenly world. In which of these senses is "the kingdom of heaven" here used? It here means the reign of Christ on earth. When John the Baptist said, "the kingdom of heaven is at hand," what did he mean? That the Lord Jesus Christ was about to establish his kingdom upon earth.. What sort of a kingdom was that which our Lord was about to establish upon earth? See ii. 3. 3. Which of the prophets does Matthew here quote? "Esaias." Who was Esaias? Isaiah. Of whom does Isaiah testify in the passage referred to?* Of John the Baptist. How do you know that it was John the Baptist to whom Isaiah refers? Because Matthew says, "This is he that was spoken of by Esaias the prophet." When the prophet spoke of John the Baptist, what did he call him?

wilderness."

"The voice of one crying in the What did the voice say? "Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight." Was this voice necessary? Yes. For what purpose? To arouse attention to the approaching advent of the Messiah. Is the injunction, 66 Prepare ye the way of the Lord," applicable only to John's hearers? It applies equally to ourselves. How can we prepare the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight? 1st. By giving him a cordial reception into our own hearts; and 2ndly, by leading others to know, love, and serve him. What is it that makes the entrance of Christ into our hearts so

Isa. xl. 3-5.