518. Malachi, B. c. 436–420. This record shows, that the present arrangement of the prophetical books has no regard to the order of time, and shows further, that several of the prophets were contemporary with each other. Malachi was the last of the holy men, upon whom the spirit of God rested in prophecy; and from him to John the Baptist, a period of more than 400 years, there was no prophet in Israel.

7. Of the Prophetical Books, it ought to be said, that many and large portions of them are written in Hebrew Poetry; and entire poems, constructed in accordance with the rules and characteristics of this species of writing, are interspersed in the various prophecies of these holy and inspired men. So that it will be understood, though 5 books are especially called poetical, they are not the only writings to which we must look for specimens of this kind of composition.

QUESTIONS ON CHAPTER II.

1.2. What is the number of the poetical books? What is said of the Book of Job? Is it a relation of facts, or a dramatic fiction? What is the object of the author? Is Job a real personage? How is he represented by the author? What changes follow? Who is represented as the author of these evils? Who is Satan? How is Job represented as bearing these calamities? What change

succeeded to this? What conclusion do you draw, as to the object of the whole book? What is your own view of the government of God in this respect? What is the Book of Psalms called in Hebrew? Who composed the larger portion of them? What other person is named, as having probably written some of them? What of the rest? What is said of these, in relation to the temple service? What of their present form? What is said of the authorship of Proverbs? What is said of its value? Who may be instructed by its contents? What is the meaning of Ecclesiastes? Who is the author of this book? When written? What is its object? What is the author's conclusion of the whole matter? Ch. xii. 13, 14. What is said of the Song of Solomon?

3. 4. What is the number of the Prophetical Books? How are they divided? Who are the Greater Prophets? Who are the Minor Prophets? What is said of the terms Greater and Minor? What of the present arrangement of the prophetical books? When did Isaiah enter upon the prophetic office? How long did he prophesy? Why is he called the Evangelical Prophet? What are his principal prophecies? For what is Isaiah distinguished, in respect to style? What is said of his prophetical writings? When did Jeremiah begin to prophesy? How long did he pursue it? What is said of his character? How was he treated by the Jews? Against whom were his denunciations principally directed? What other events did he foretell? What is said of the last chapter of Jeremiah? What is said of the Book of Lamentations? What particular characteristic is mentioned ?

5. 6. 7. What is said of the prophecies of Ezekiel ? How may they be divided? What of the first part? What is the design of the second? What are the principal events foretold? When did Ezekiel enter upon his

ministry, and how long did he continue in it? What is said of Daniel and his captivity? For what was he distinguished? With whom was he in favor? How may the book of Daniel be divided? What chapters are embraced in the Historical part, and what do they relate? The Prophetical portion occupies what chapters, and foretells what? Can you give the names of the Mi nor Prophets? When did Hosea flourish? About what time before Christ did Joel prophesy? Amos? Obadiah? Jonah? Micah? Nahum ? Habakkuk Zephaniah?

Haggai Zechariah? Malachi? What is said of the arrangement of the Prophetical Books in our Version? Who was the last of the Jewish prophets, previous to John Baptist? What period intervened between Malachi and John Baptist? What is said of the poetical portions of these books?

1

CHAPTER III.

Books of the New Testament and their Authors. - Historical.

1. As early as the second century the New Testament was considered under the two heads or divisions of Gospels and Epistles, or Gospels and Apostles. The more common division at this day is historical, doctrinal, and prophetical. The historical embraces the four Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles; and the doctrinal includes all the rest, except Revelations, which is classed with the prophetical portion of the Scriptures. The term New Testament was borrowed at an early period by the church from the Scriptures themselves. Matt. xxvi. 28.; Heb. ix. 15, 20. The term Gospel, which is generally applied to the histories of Christ and his teachings by the four Evangelists, is frequently used in a more extended sense as significant of the whole system of grace and salvation, which the religion of Jesus unfolds. The word Gospel is derived from two Saxon words, God (Good) and spel (message or tidings) and exactly answers to the Greek Evanggelion, which is evidently intended to denote the "glad tidings of great joy which shall be unto all people." Luke ii. 10.

2. MATTHEW. Matthew, who is called Levi by Mark and Luke (Mark ii. 14.; Luke v. 27, 29), was by birth a Jew, and a native of Galilee; but of what city, or of what tribe, we are not informed. Before he became a follower of Christ, he was employed as a tax-gatherer and custom-house officer under the Romans. He was connected with the custom-house at Capernaum, a maritime city on the sea of Galilee, and collected the duties upon all goods exported or imported at that place, and the tribute exacted of those who passed over the Lake. That Matthew's condition in life was at least easy, is inferred from the entertainment which he gave, soon after his call, to his acquaintances and friends. After being numbered with the disciples, he constantly accompanied Christ as a hearer, and a witness, of his wonderful works; and continued with him to the end. After the ascension he remained at Jerusalem with the rest of the disciples, but how long he stayed in Judea we are not informed. Nor have we any certain account of the time, place, and circumstances of his death. An ecclesiastical historian of the fifth century states, that he suffered martyrdom in India ; but this is believed to be incorrect.

3. His Gospel. With regard to the date of the gospel by Matthew, and the language in which it was written, there has been much discussion. Without entering into the merits of the question in debate, we shall state what appears to us the most probable in regard to the time and language