the Scripture History, except what is contained in the visions of St. John, in the Revelation.

The writers of this history are St. Matthew and St. John the apostles; St. Mark the companion of St. Peter, and St. Luke the companion of St. Paul. It is contained chiefly in the four Gospels, written by those evangelists whose names they bear, and in the Acts of the Apostles, of which Luke was the writer; though some further hints and memoirs may be collected from some parts of the Epistles.

CHAP. XXI.

Of John the Baptist.

1 Q. As the Old Testament begins with the creation of the world, so the first question here is, who was the Saviour of the world?

A. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was sent down to dwell among men, in order to become their Saviour. Matt. i. 21. 1 Tim. i. 15. John iii. 17. 1 John iv. 14. Matt. xvi. 16.

2 Q. What notice was ever given of his coming?

A. God himself, and his prophets, throughout all ages, have foretold his coming as some great Deliverer, as the Messiah, or Anointed of God. Luke i. 70. Acts iii. 18.

3 Q. Were there any plain marks or characters given him whereby he might be known?

A. Yes; many characters of him are found in the books of the Old Testament, as the foregoing chapter declares; and he has answered them all, both in his life, his doctrine, his death, and his resurrection.

4 Q. Was such a Messiah expected by the Jews, to whom the books of the Old Testament were given ?

:

A. He was long expected by them, and particularly in that age wherein he came and that both by the Jews and by the Samaritans. John i. 45. Luke viii. 15. John iv, 25, 29.

Note. It is worth our observation, that not only the Jews and Samaritans, but the heathens also, about this time, expected some great king or glorious person to be born.

Virgil, the Roman poet, who lived in the time of Augustus Cæsar, in his fourth Eclogue, is supposed to describe the blessings of the government and age of some great person, who was or should be born about this time: and he doth it in language very agreeable to the Jewish prophet's description of the Messiah, and his kingdom. Some suppose that he borrowed this sense from some ancient books of the prophetesses, who were called Sybils: but it is evident that those writings of the Sybils which are delivered down to us, have so many signs of forgery, that we can give no great credit to them.

Suetonius, a Roman writer, tells us, in the life of Augustus Cæsar, that there was one Julius Marathus, declared, that Nature was about to bring forth a king for the people of Rome." He says also, in the life of Vespasian," that there had prevailed over all the eastern part of the world, a constant opinion, that about that time there should come out of Judea those who should obtain the empire of the world." Tacitus, another of their historians, saith the same thing; and that it was contained in the ancient books of the Jewish priests: so that both Jews and Gentiles expected now some glorious person to arise in the world.

5 Q. Who was the forerunner, or the messenger sent to declare that he was just at hand?

A. John the baptist, the son of Zecharias and Elisabeth. Luke i. 5, 67. Mark i. 2.

6 Q. What was Zecharias?

A.

A good man, and a priest, who lived without a child till his wife and he were both grown old. Luke i. 6, 7.

7 Q. What was there remarkable in the birth of John?

A. The angel Gabriel appeared to Zecharias while he was offering incense in the temple, and the people were praying without, and told him that he should have a son, and should call his name John. Luke i. 9, &c. 8 Q. What sign did the angel give of the truth of his message ?

A. That Zecharias should be dumb, and not able to speak till John was born. ver. 20.

9 Q. What honour was done to Elisabeth while she was with child of her son ?

A. The virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, made a visit to her, and they both rejoiced and praised God together in a divine rapture. Luke i. 39-55.

10 Q. When was Zecharias released from his dumbness, and had his voice restored to him?

A. When his wife brought forth a son, and they were going to circumcise the child, he wrote his name John on a table, and then his tongue was loosed, and he spake the praises of God. ver. 59-64.

11 Q. Where was John brought up?

A. In the desert country or wilderness of Judea, and there also he began his public ministry, when he was about thirty years of age. vèr. 80, and Luke iii. 2.

12 Q. What was his chief commission from God? A. He was sent to preach the doctrine of repentance, and forgiveness of sins; to baptize or wash with water those who professed their repentance, and to direct the people to Christ as the Saviour. Mark i. 4, 5. John i. 26, 31.

13 Q. What further instructions did he give to the people ?

A. He bid them not trust in their being the children of Abraham; he taught them lessons of love and liberality; to give food and clothing to those who wanted: and he gave special directions to the Pharisees and Sadducees, to the publicans and the soldiers, who came to be baptizel. Matt. iii. 7, 8. Luke iii. 7—14.

14 Q. What directions did he give to the Pharisees and Sadducees?

A. He bid them bring forth fruits in their lives, to make their repentance appear, as well as profess it with their lips. Matt. iii. 7, 8.

15 Q. What advice did he give the publicans or tax gatherers?

A. To exact or demand no more money of the people than what was appointed. Luke iii. 13.

16 Q. And what was his counsel to the soldiers?

A. To do violence or injury to none, to accuse no person falsely, and to be content with their pay. Luke

ii. 14.

17 Q. What did he say concerning himself?

A. That he was not the Christ, nor the very prophet Elias risen from the dead; but that he was only come as a voice in the wilderness, to prepare the way of the Lord, according to the prophecy of Isaiah. John i. 20--23. Isa. xl. 3.

18 Q. But does not Jesus Christ himself say, that John was Elias, or Elijah?

A. Yes; because he came in the spirit and power of Elias, to prepare the way for Christ, according to the sense of the prophet Malachi. Mal. iv. 5. Luke i. 17.

Matt. xvii. 12, 13.

19 Q. Wherein did he imitate or look like Elias, or Elijah ?

A. That he wore a garment of hair; that he lived an austere life, like Elijah, in the wilderness; that he came to begin a reformation among the Jews, as Elias did, when they were greatly corrupted; and he reproved Herod, as Elias reproved Ahab. Mark i. 6, and ix. 13. Matt. xiv. 3.

20 Q. What did he say concerning Jesus Christ?

A. He declared that though Jesus came after him, yet he was not worthy to bear his shoes; that he only baptized with water, but Jesus would baptize with the Holy Ghost and with fire; and he pointed him out in the midst of the people; This is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world. John i. 29—–34. Matt. iii. 11.

21 Q. How did he come to know Jesus Christ?

A. He had some notice given him privately from God, and he had a further public sign from heaven to confirm his knowledge of him.

22 Q. What was that public sign?

A. When Jesus was baptized by John at the river Jordan, the Holy Ghost came down like a dove, and rested upon him, as God had foretold him. Matt. iii. 16, 17, and John i. 31--33.

23 Q. Did the disciples of John immediately leave him, and follow Jesus?

A. No; for Jesus had not then begun his public ministry.

24 Q. How did John further recommend Jesus Christ to his disciples ?

A. Some time after he sent them to see the miracles that Jesus wrought, that they might be convinced that he was the Messiah. Matt. xi. 6.

25 Q. What became of John the baptist?

A. He was cast into prison by Herod, because he reproved him for taking Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. Matt. xiv. 3, 4.

26 Q. Did not Herod hear John preach sometimes, and reformed some of his evil practices upon it?

A. Yes, he did; and yet he was persuaded to put him to death at last, to satisfy the malice and revenge of this wicked woman. Mark vi. 20--29.

27 Q. How came this to pass ?

A. Upon Herod's birth-day, the daughter of Herodias pleased the king so well with her dancing, that he promised to give her whatever she asked; and her mother bid her ask for John the baptist's head in a dish. Matt. xiv. 6-8.

28 Q. And did Herod then comply with this bloody request?

A. Yes; for he had sworn to it before a great deal of company; and rather than break his rash and sinful oath, he would kill a prophet of God. Matt. xiv. 9—11. 29 Q. What became of the body of John the baptist? A. His disciples took it up and buried it. ver. 12. 30 Q Whither did his disciples go afterward? A. They went and told Jesus what had befallen their master, and probably they became the disciples of Jesus.

ver. 12.