PREFACE

Inquiry has been often made for another series of question books on the general plan of the Union Questions, but differing from them in the following particular, viz.: instead of taking (as they do the events and instructions recorded in the several gospels, as so many distinct and independent subjects of instruction, it is proposed to take each gospel by itself, and, following the order of events as they stand in the history, divide the text into lessons of suitable length, and frame appropriate questions thereon. To supply this want the series of four books (of which the present volume is one) has been prepared.

The principal advantage anticipated from the use of such a Question-book as this, is, that the whole of each gospel-narrative will be brought into view at once, and, so far as that gospel contains it, the pupil will have a complete history of Christ and of his miracles and teachings.

The first and second volumes of Union Questions (which contain the gospels) are intended to bring into connected view the chief transactions of our Saviour's life on earth, as they are recorded by any of the evangelists or by all of them-drawing from each history to supply the omissions, or to connect, illustrate, and confirm the statements, of the others.

Both plans, carried out by a skilful teacher, will accom; lish one ard the same result; but as there 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 Pub. lication 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 brough: 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 annex ation 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 pas sages, or to explanatory or illustrative texts, renders the use of the WHOLE SACRED TEXT-BOOK indis pensable.

1. WHAT "things" are intended in this and the thin
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, wherela thou hast been instructed.

5 ¶ 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 "walking in the commandments of the Lord"?

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 as 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 thon 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.