Relate briefly what took place in the first six days 69. of the creation. What took place on the seventh, and for what pur- 70. pose was that day set apart by the Almighty? What ought we chiefly to remark on the narrative 71. of the creation ? We shall now proceed with the revealed history of 72. mankind. Who was the first man, and what was the nature of his being? What use is he to make of the dominion given him 73. over the brute creation ? How was the first woman created, and what was 74. she called? Where did the first pair live, and what command 75. did God give them? What do you understand the punishment of death 76. to mean? But was not this a severe punishment for so small 77. a fault? Did not this command infringe on the liberty of 78. man? How do you explain the existence of evil in this 79. world? What were the immediate consequences which fol- 80. lowed the first sin? How did God in his mercy, at the same time that 81. he punished, promise relief to the human race? What was the next result of the introduction of 82. sin ? 83. How did God mark the difference betwixt sin and holiness? 84. Did mankind grow better in consequence of the punishment of Adam and Cain? 85. What proof did God give of his mercy nishment of mankind? in the pu 86. What was the first act of Noah on landing out of the ark ? 87. What promise or covenant did God make on that occasion ? 88. Who were the three sons of Noah, from whom the earth was replenished with people? 89. What was the origin of the different nations of the earth? 90. What remark may we presume to make on the length of the life of man before the deluge ? 91. What step did God take to preserve the true worship of himself, and who was the person chosen for that purpose? 92. What were the cities that were destroyed for their wickedness? 93. Did Abraham intercede for them, and what remark you make on his intercession ? do 94. What do we learn from the fate of Lot's wife? 95. Had Abraham any children? 96. What order did God give Abraham with regard to Isaac ? 97. What important lesson have we to learn on the oc casion of Abraham's obedience? Detail the circumstances of Abraham's meeting 98. with Melchisedec. 100. What are the points of similitude between this 99. king and our Saviour, alluded to in Psalm cx. 4. ? Did not Abraham endeavour to save his wife by asserting of her what was not true, on more than one occasion ? What remark have you to make on this trait in 101. Abraham's character ? What does the history of Abraham principally 102. prove? What steps did Abraham take to transmit to his 103. posterity the worship of the true God? Relate the circumstances in which the sons of 104. Isaac differed in their character. How did Jacob obtain the advantage over his 105. elder brother, which the circumstance of his birth would have given Esau ? What is it you understand by birthright in this 106. case ? Was not the conduct of Jacob and of his mother 107. reprehensible in this instance ? But was not the success of the deception practised 108. by Jacob, a proof of the approbation of his conduct by God? Relate what happened to Jacob on his return to 109. Canaan. How many sons had Jacob, and what happened to 110. Joseph ? 111. What lesson do we learn from the partiality shewn to Joseph by his father? 112. How is the glory of God manifested in the sale of Joseph to the Ishmaelites ? 113. Give an instance of the trust of Joseph in God in his distress. 114. How was he rewarded by the king of Egypt, and was that reward his only consolation? 115. Relate the vexations to which in aftertimes the Israelites were subjected to by the Egyptians. 116. Whom did God appoint to deliver them from their oppressors ? 117. What is meant when it is said that Pharaoh's heart was hardened? 118. What was the last punishment inflicted on the Egyptians, and what may we infer from its severity ? 119. How did the Israelites escape the general destruction which was brought on the first-born of Egypt ? 120. What is the feast called which is celebrated in commemoration of this event, and how was it commanded to be observed ? 121. How do you understand the expression made use of in the 36th of the xii. of Exodus, that the Israelites spoiled the Egyptians? 122. How were the Israelites saved from destruction by the Egyptians who followed them, and were they grateful for this mark of God's favour? Did they then abstain from all expressions of thanks 123. to God even after they had been wonderfully preserved in passing the Red Sea ? How were they punished for their various acts of 124. disobedience in the desert? Recount some of the marks of Divine mercy to- 125. wards the rebellious Israelites ? How were they governed, and why was that go- 126. vernment called at first a theocracy? How was their priesthood appointed? 127. What were the principal sacrifices offered accord- 128. ing to the ceremonial law, and what was their object? What were the principal feasts ordained to be 129. observed ? Relate what the object of the Sabbath was? 130. What was the Holy of Holies, and when did the 131. chief priests enter therein ? What observation have you to make on the minute 132. details of the Mosaic laws? The Jews seem to have been a very ungrateful 133. people; how could the Almighty have chosen. them for the purposes of transmitting the true worship of himself? 134. Did Moses obey the Divine commands always? Why was the punishment of the Jews and the na- 135. tions around them so severe ? Who were the two persons who were allowed to see 136. |