are diversities of gifts, so also are there diversities of opinions and tastes. And as the great design of the American Sunday-school Union is to secure the widest possible diffusion of Scriptural knowledge, it is the highest pleasure of the Committee of Publication to furnish every facility to those who are labouring together with us for the same end. It may be proper to state that the lessons in the present volume are not so long as those in the Union Questions generally, but they will not for that reason require less study and preparation on the part of teachers, or pupils. Another peculiarity in the present volume will be seen at once. The text which each lesson embraces is subjoined to it, so that the eye of teacher, or pupil, falls directly from the question, in large print, to the answer below. It has been found by many that the Question-book and the volume of Divine truth, which it is designed to open, are oftentimes so far from each other, that much of the benefit of this mode of instruction is lost. We have here brought the contents of each into connection, so that no negligence, inconvenience, or forgetfulness shall separate them. If the question-book on either gospel comes, the Gospel itself shall come with it. It will readily occur to teachers that the annexation of the text to the lesson does not at all avoid the necessity of having a copy of the Scriptures in the hands of each member of the class at the time of instruction. A reference to parallel passages, or to explanatory or illustrative texts, renders the use of the WHOLE SACRED TEXT-BOOK indis pensable. THE CONSECUTIVE UNION QUESTION-BOOK. JOHN. LESSON I. The Divine Nature of Christ. John i. 1-14. WHO wrote this gospel? Was he John the Baptist? Can you tell any thing about him? 1. How does this gospel begin? What proof have we in this verse that Christ is a divine being? 2. What is said of the Word in this verse? Who is meant by "the same"? 3. What was made by him? Who then must the Word be? CHAP. I.-1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 5 4. What is next said of the Word? In what peculiar sense was life in Christ? What was the life? What does this mean? Does he ever call himself "the life"? What sort of life does he give to "all" men? How is Christ the "light of men”? 5. Where does the light shine? What is meant by the "light shining in darkness"? What is said of the darkness? What "darkness" is meant? What is it to "comprehend"? What is here meant by the darkness not comprehending the light? Do all men now comprehend the light of the gospel? What do men need to enable them to comprehend the light? 6. Who is here spoken of? Whose son was he? How had he been "sent from God"? What is it to "bear witness" ? Who was the Light of whom John bore witness? How did John bear witness of the light? Have we still his witness? What should all believe? 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 6 T There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that s men through him might believe. 8. What is said of John? For what was he sent? 9. What is said about the true light? Who is the true light? How can Christ be said to lighten every man that cometh into the world? Will any other light lead men to heaven? 10. Where was Christ? What was made by him? Why did not the world know him? What is it to "know" Christ? Who can teach us to know Christ? 11. To whom did "the light" come? Why were the Jews especially called his own? How did they treat him while on earth? Who are now called his own? Do we not receive the light of his word? What then is our duty? How is Christ generally received by the world now? 12. Did any receive him? What did he give to such? What is it to receive Christ? What is here meant by "power" ? What is it to become "the sons of God"? 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 8 How may we know the children of God? To whom are they like? What is it to "believe on the name of Christ" ? 13. How are the children of God de scribed? What is meant by their being "born of God"? Can any human being renew the heart? 14. What is here said of the Word? How did the Word become flesh? Among whom did he dwell? How was the glory of Christ seen? To whom must sinners go for grace and wisdom and every good thing? LESSON II. Testimony of John the Baptist. John i. 15-34. 15. WHAT did John declare? Who was born first, Christ or John? How then was Christ "before" John? 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we Deheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of WH How Chr 18. W the bos whom I spake, was before me. 16 And of his 17 For the la Jesus Christ. 18 No man h is in the bosom 19 And thi Levites from J |