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 indispensable.

THE

CONSECUTIVE

UNION QUESTION-BOOK.

LUKE.

LESSON I.

The Birth of John the Baptist predicted.
Luke i. 1-17.

1. WHAT " things" are intended in this and the third verse?

2. What is meant by "ministers of the word"? 3. Who is speaking in this verse?

Who was Theophilus ?

4. For what purpose was this gospel written?

Are there any authentic histories of the life of Christ except the 'four gospels?

5. Who was the king of Judea at the time the birth of John was predicted?

CHAP. I.-1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;

3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,

4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

5 T There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain

5

What priest lived at that time?

Of what course was he?

What is meant by the "course of Abia"?
Who was the wife of Zacharias?

Who was Aaron?

How could Elisabeth be called his daughter?

6. What was the character of Zacharias

and Elisabeth?

What is it to be "righteous"?

What is meant by the Lord"?

66

walking in the commandments of

7. Had they any children?

What is meant by “well stricken in years”?
8. What office did Zacharias perform?
What was the priest's office?

9. What was the lot of Zacharias?
What is incense?

Where did he burn incense?

What is meant by its "being his lot to burn incense"?

On what did the priest burn incense?

10. What were the people doing? Where were they praying?

What is meant by "without":

priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,

9 According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

11. Who appeared to Zacharias? Where did the angel stand?

What is an angel?

12. What were the emotions of Zacharias when he saw the angel?

13. What did the angel say to Zacharias? What is "prayer"?

What was he to call his son ?

14. What was promised to Zacharias? Why would others rejoice on account of the birth of John?

Was this the apostle John?

15. What was he to be?

What is meant by the phrase "great in the sight of the Lord"?

How was John "great" in the sight of the Lord? What else is said in this verse?

Who is meant by the "Holy Ghost"?

How can any one be said to be "filled" with the Holy Ghost?

16. Whom was John to turn to the Lord ? Who were meant by "the children of Israel"? What is meant by John's turning them?

How did he do it?

11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

17. How was John to go before the Lord? Who is meant by Elias?

In what respect was John like Elijah ?

For what purpose was John to go before the Lord?

What is meant by this?

LESSON II.

Luke i. 18-38.

The Annunciation of the Birth of Christ. 18. WHAT did Zacharias ask the angel? 19. What did the angel say concerning himself?

What may we hence learn of the nature of angels? What is meant by "tidings" ?

What were the glad tidings he brought?

20. What did he tell Zacharias should come upon him?

How long should he be dumb?...
Why should he be dumb?

21. What were the people doing?

17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. 18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to show thee these glad tidings.

20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.