CHAP. XXII.

Of the Birth and Childhood of Jesus Christ.

1 Q.

WHO was JESUS CHRIST?

A. 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 Jesus Christ signify? A. Jesus (which is his proper name) signifies a Saviour; and Christ is the same in Greek that Messiah is in Hebrew, which signifies his being anointed, or appointed to that office. Matt. i. 21. John i. 41. Psal. ii. 2. 3 Q. 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 chap. i. 1, 2, 14.

4 Q. In what manner did he come into this world? A. He laid aside 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 Isaiah. Phil. ii. 7. Heb. ii. 14, and x. 5. Matt. i. 20, 23. Isa. vii. 14.

5 Q. Who was this Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ? A. She was a poor young woman of the family of David, who was espoused to, or had consented to marry Joseph, a carpenter, who was also of the house of David, that royal family being then fallen into decay. Matt. i. 18, 20. Luke i. 32. Matt. xiii. 55.

6 Q. Did Joseph marry her afterwards?

A. Joseph 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. Matt. i. 20.

7 Q. What notice had Mary that she should have such a son?

A. The angel Gabriel was sent to her at Nazareth, where she dwelt, to assure her that the Power of the most high God should overshadow her, and that she

should bring forth a child who should be called the Son of God. Luke i. 26-35.

8 Q. How was Mary further encouraged in this hope? A. While she was with child with her son Jesus, she went to visit her cousin Elisabeth, who was then with child with John the baptist; Elisabeth saluted her as the mother of the Messiah, and they were both inspired to praise the Lord with divine raptures. Luke i. 39-55.

9 Q.

Where was Jesus Christ born?

A. In Bethlehem the city of David, according to the prophecy of Micah. Luke ii. 4. Matt. ii. 5, 6. Micah v. 2. 10 Q. How came Mary to lie in at Bethlehem ?

A. Augustus Cæsar, the emperor, had decreed to tax or register all the world; and Joseph being of the house of David, went up with Mary his espoused wife, to be registered or taxed in Bethlehem the city of David. Luke ii. 1-5.

11 Q. What provision was made for her there ?

A. A poor provision indeed: there was no room for them in the inn; she was lodged in a stable, and when she brought forth her son, she laid him in the manger. Luke ii. 17.

12 Q. What special notices were given that this child was the Messiah, or Christ the King of Israel?

A. Many notices were given of it by angels and men, by Jews and Gentiles.

13 Q. What notice was given by angels that Christ was born?

A. An angel appeared to some shepherds by night, and sent them to find the babe in a manger at Bethlehem. Luke ii. 8-16.

14 Q. What joy was shewn among the angels upon this occasion?

A. A multitude of the heavenly host praised God, saying, Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, and good will towards men: and this the shepherds heard. ver. 13, 14.

15 Q. What testimonies were given to Jesus Christ in his infancy by any of the Jews?

A. When he was brought to the temple to be circumcised, and presented to the Lord as the first-born, Simeon and Anna, two ancient persons among the Jews, bore. witness to him. ver. 25, 26.

16 Q. What was the witness which Simeon bore to the infant Jesus ?

A. It was revealed to him that he should not die before he had seen the Messiah; and he took Jesus up in his arms, and said, Now, Lord, let thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation. ver. 26-30. 17 Q. What witness did Anna bear to him?

A. She was an aged widow, and a prophetess; she gave thanks to the Lord concerning him, and spake of him to all that looked for redemption in Jerusalem, ver. 36-38.

18 Q. Who among the Gentiles received notice of the birth of Christ?

A. Some wise men in the east had seen a new star, and they had some 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 house where Jesus

was ?

A. The star went before them, and stood over the place where the infant lay. ver. 9.

20 Q. What honour did they do him?

4. They fell down and worshipped him, and presented him gold and spices. ver. 11.

21 Q. What enemies or dangers did Jesus meet with in his infancy?

A. Herod the great, who then reigned in Judea, having heard from the wise men that a king of the Jews was born, was filled with jealousy, and thought to destroy Je

22 Q. What means did Herod use to destroy him ? A. He slew all the children that were in or near Bethlehem, under two years old. ver. 16.

23 Q. How did the child Jesus escape?

A. Joseph, his supposed father, was warned by an angel to take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt. ver. 13.

24 Q. When did Jesus return into the land of Israel?

A. When Herod was dead, God sent a message by an angel in a dream, to command Joseph and Mary to return with him; so 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 Jesus?

A. When he was twelve years old he went up with his parents to the pass-over, according to their custom; but when they returned, they missed their son.

ii. 41-43.

26 Q.

Where did they find him?

Luke

A. They turned back to Jerusalem, and after three days they found him in the temple, in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. ver. 45, 46.

27 Q. What reason did the child Jesus give for his conduct?

A. He told them, that they might have supposed he was about his father's business; 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 Jesus 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 Jesus himself is called a carpenter. Mark vi. 3.

CHAP. XXIII.

Of the public Life and Ministry of Christ.

INTRODUCTION.

His Preparation for his public Work.

1 Q. Ar what age did Jesus begin to appear in public ?

A. At 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 baptism, by the descent of the Holy Spirit upon him, by his retirement, and his temptations. Luke iii. and iv.

3 Q. When was Jesus Christ baptized?

A. When John the baptist was sent with a commission to baptize men, Jesus offered himself at the River Jordan to be baptized, that he might fulfil all righteousness, though he had no need to be washed from sin Matt. iii. 14, 15.

4 Q. What testimony did he receive from John the baptist?

A. John declared, that Jesus was the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world; and that he himself, who baptized with water, was not worthy to loose the shoes of Jesus, because he was appointed to baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Matt. iii. 11. 5 Q. What miracle attended this baptism?

A. When Jesus came out of the water, the Spirit of God like a dove descended upon him, and a voice from heaven was heard, saying, This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Matt. iii. 16, 17.

6 Q. Whither did he go for his retirement after he was baptized?

A. He was led into the wilderness, not only to endure temptation, and conquer the tempter there, but probably to spend forty days in meditation and prayer, and converse with God; as Moses, before his giving the laws to Israel, spent forty days with God on Mount Sinai. Mark i. 12, 13.

7 Q. Was this the place of his contest with the tempter?

A. Yes; the devil assaulted him here with three powerful temptations. Matt. iv. 1-11.

8 Q. What was the first temptation?

A. The devil persuaded him to turn stones into bread, because he was an hungred, having fasted forty days.

9 Q. How did Christ answer him?