Yes we learn much more of his nature, and are made acquainted with our duty to him, in the Bible. 2. What is the Bible? A collection of books written by wise and good men, extraordinarily enlightened and instructed by God, for the benefit of all future generations. 3. By what other names is the Bible known? It is also called the holy scripture, or writing; and is divided into two parts, the Old and New Tes tament. 4. What doth the Old Testament contain? It contains an account of the creation, the destruction of the world by a flood of water, the history of the Jewish nation, the poetical books of Job and Psalms, the wise instructions of Solomon in the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, and the writings of the prophets before the time of Jesus Christ. 5. What do you find in the New Testament? That which was written concerning Jesus Christ by his apostles, or messengers, and his first disciples, or scholars. 6. What is the meaning of the word gospel? It signifies "good tidings" or news, and is applied to the teaching of Christ because it proclaimed the salvation of mankind. 7. In what manner should we treat the holy scripture? It is necessary to read and study it with attention, to reflect seriously on what we read, and to obey all that is there commanded as far as it is applicable to our present circumstances. SECTION IV. 1. Has God any where in the Old Testament given us distinct directions concerning our duty? Yes-in the ten commandments which he delivered on mount Sinai to the people of Israel. 2. What is the first of these commandments? Thou shalt not worship God by images, as if he had any bodily shape. 4. What is the third? Thou shalt not take the name of God in vain, by calling on him to witness a falsehood, by profane cursing and swearing, or by any irreverent use of it. 5. What is the fourth? Thou shalt rest one day in seven from worldly business. 6. What is the fifth? Thou shalt honour and obey thy parents. 7. What is the sixth? Thou shalt not commit murder. 8. What is the seventh? Thou shalt not commit adultery. 9. What is the eighth? Thou shalt not steal. 10. What is the ninth? Thou shalt not bear false witness. 11. What is the tenth? Thou shalt not covet any thing that belongs to another person. SECTION V. 1. Did not the prophets foretel the appearance of another person in the world for the purpose of giving mankind farther instructions in their duty to God and stronger motives to the practice of it? Yes-and this person was Jesus Christ. They foretold the time and place of his birth, many circumstances relating to his life and death, and the glorious and triumphant spread of his doctrine. 2. What is the meaning of those names which are applied to him? Jesus signifies a Saviour, and Christ is a surname which signifies the Anointed or the Messiah, and on this account he was called the Son of God-his well beloved and only-begotten Son. 3. In what circumstances did he appear? His parents were persons of a low condition, he himself lived in poverty, and was sometimes destitute of common necessaries. 4. Why did Christ live in poverty and meanness? Because he came to suffer; and to teach us not to pay too great a regard to the pleasures or to the men of this world. 5. Whom did Christ choose to be witnesses of all he did, and to collect his instructions? He chose twelve men who were called Apostles: that is, those who were sent by him. 6. What sort of men were they? They were taken from the common rank of the people, had not enjoyed the advantages of education, and obtained their living by common employments. 7. Why did Christ make choice of such persons H rather than those who were more distinguished in the world? To make it evident that his religion depended not for its establishment on the skill or power of men, but that it derived all its strength from God. SECTION VI. 1. In what respect was Jesus Christ superior to all the prophets who came before him? In the authority with which he was invested, in the perfection of his example, in the purity of his precepts and in the importance of the motives by which he enforced them. 2. What summary-or brief contents-did he give of the ten commandments. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and thy neighbour as thyself." 3. What else did he teach? That God should be worshipped in spirit and in truth-that we should forgive our enemies, and that then we may hope for the forgiveness of our offences against God-and that at a certain day all the dead should be raised to life again, and be rewarded or punished according to their works. 4. By what signs, independent of the purity of his life and doctrine, hath Christ proved that he was sent of God? He performed many miracles, as giving sight to the blind, healing by a word all sorts of disorders, appeasing tempests, and raising the dead. 5. Did the Jews, his countrymen, yield to this evi dence and receive him as the Messiah whom their prophets had foretold? No-they hated him because he reproved them for their vices, and accused him of adesign to set up a kingdom in opposition to that of Cæsar the Roman emperor. 6. What was the consequence of this accusation? He was condemned to death by crucifixion, a punishment inflicted only on the vilest slaves and malefactors. SECTION VII. 1. Did Christ continue in the state of the dead? No-he was restored to life on the third day by the mighty power of God, as he had frequently declared he should be. 2. Who were witnesses of his resurrection? His Apostles and a great number of other persons. 3. Were they well assured that it was really Christ who rose again? Yes they saw him frequently, heard him speak, discoursed with him, and ate and drank with him. 4. Did he continue long on earth after his resurrection? He remained forty days, and was then taken up into heaven, and sat at the right hand of God. 5. What is meant by that expression? It is an ancient method of speaking which signifies that God hath bestowed great authority upon Christ. 6. Were any intimations given of as coming again, and for what purpose? Agreeably to his own predictions, to the declara |