is required; but this is a fault which, if uniformly checked, will soon be conquered.* * For a specimen of the manner in which these Exercises are intended to be used, take the parable of the virgins, in the twenty-fifth chapter; the questions on which (with the exception of those to which are attached italic answers) were promptly answered by a little child about six years of age, without any previous training of course, she was allowed to read the answers; but afterwards, she replied with equal correctness without the Testament, expressing the answers in her own words. Question. To what is the kingdom of heaven likened? Answer. Unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. Q. What were the characters of these ten persons? A. Five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Q. What was the conduct of the foolish? A. They took their lamps, and took no oil with them. Q. And what did the wise do? A. They took oil in their vessels, with their lamps. Q. What characters, in the present day, do these ten virgins represent? A. [Here the children must repeat the answer printed in italics.] Q. While they waited for the bridegroom's coming, what did the virgins do? A. They all slumbered and slept. Q. And at midnight they were surprised by a cry-what cry? A. Behold, the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him. Q. Then what did they do? A. They arose, and trimmed their lamps. Q. And the foolish virgins found that their lamps would not burn-confused and alarmed, what did they say to their companions? A. Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. Q. Of course, the others were too wise to consent to that-what did they direct them to do? A. Go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. Q. And they did so-but while they were gone to buy, what happened? A. The bridegroom came, and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage; and the door was shut. Q. And when the foolish virgins returned, what did they say? A. Lord, Lord, open to us. Q. But what answer did they receive? A. Verily, I say unto you, I know you not. Q. What use did Jesus exhort his disciples to make of this parable? A. Watch therefore; for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. Q. To what custom does this parable refer? A. [Here the children must repeat the answer in italics.] It is very desirable, that teachers should occasionally introduce additional observations of their own, and particularly simple and affectionate addresses at the conclusion of a chapter. An answer to a question, or a hint inserted expressly for the purpose, will suggest subjects sufficiently interesting and various. The most ingenious exercise of the intellect, and the most correct statement of truth, unaccompanied by a serious and energetic appeal to the conscience, like a tale without a moral, or a sermon without application, may amuse and enlighten the mind, but can never affect the heart. "He that winneth souls is wise." The sources from which the writer has principally derived assistance, are such, he presumes, as will be generally approved: they are Dr. Doddridge's Family Expositor, and the Rev. Mr. Scott's Commentary; besides which, he has occasionally availed himself of a few smaller works, and the short-hand Notes of his deceased parent. And an acknowledgment of his obligations to Dr. Ryland and the Rev. T. S. Crisp, for their kindness in revising the manuscript and proof sheets, cannot fail to produce an increased confidence in the publication. As this first public “ essay to do good," appears to be acceptable, a Second Part is published, containing similar Exercises on the Gospel according to LUKE; and a Third, on the Gospel according to JOHN; a Fourth Part is in the press, on the ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. Exercises on the Gospel according to Mark, are considered unnecessary, on account of the general similarity which exists between that Gospel and the Gospel of Matthew. QUESTIONS, &c. ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW. AS we are about to enter on the history contained in the Gospels, it is desirable that we should know something of the country in which the principal events occurred-what are the different names by which it has been called? ANS. Canaan, The Land of Promise, Palestine, The Land of Israel, The Land of Judah, and The Holy Land. Why was it called Canaan? ANS. Because it was inhabited by Canaan, (the grandson of Nouh,) and his posterity. Why was it called the Land of Promise? ANS. Because it was promised to Abraham and his descendants. Why was it called Palestine? ANS, Because the Philistines, or Palestines, inhabited the sea coast. Why was it called the Land of Israel? ANs. Because the descendants of Jacob, or Israel, obtained possession of it. Why was it called the Land of Judah? ANs. Because the Tribe of Judah was the most considerable of the twelve among which the land was divided. And why was it called the Holy Land? ANS. Because it was the land in which God was especially known and worshipped, and the scene of our Saviour's life and death and resurrection. Into how many principal parts was the country divided? Ans. Four: Judea, Samaria, Galilee, and Perea. The latter division is sometimes called The country beyond Jordan, because it lay on the east of that river, which flowed through the land from north to south. The other three were on the west side of the river: Judea was the south part, Galilee the north part, and Samaria lay between them. If you keep this division in your minds, it will be of great service to you, when you read the Gospels, and when we question you from what you read; but now tell me what do you understand by east, west, north, and south? ANs. If we look at the sun at six o'clock in the morning, the east will be before us, the west behind us, the north to our left, and the south to our right. The first chapter of Matthew contains an account of our Saviour's genealogy, and is too difficult for you to understand at present. We will begin therefore by reading the second chapter, and then examine you upon it. CHAP. II. 1 WHAT was the name of the place where Jesus was born? Who was Jesus? Where was Bethlehem? And what part of Palestine was Judea? Who was king of Judea at the time Jesus was born? What Herod was this? ANs. He was commonly called Herod the Great: he was so exceedingly jealous and cruel, that, besides causing whole families to be put to death for the faults of individuals, he murdered some of his nearest relations, among whom were his wife, her mother and brother, his uncle, and three of his own sons. What remarkable happened at the time when Jesus was born? 2 Whom did the wise men seek? Who do you think is meant by the King of the Jews? But how was Jesus the King of the Jews? ANS. He was not their TEMPORAL king (as our king is king of England,) for his kingdom was not of this world: but he was their SPIRITUAL king, to govern their souls. What served as a guide to these wise men, in seeking Jesus? And what was their object in seeking him? 3 When Herod heard of these wise men, and what was their errand, how did he feel? And no wonder; for he was afraid that Jesus would be king instead of him: and all the people of the place where Herod lived were troubled with him-what was the name of that place? Where was Jerusalem? ANS. Jerusalem was in Judea, and the chief city in Palestine, the same as London is the chief city of all England: the kings used to live at Jerusalem; and Jerusalem was the place where the temple was, in which sacrifices were offered to God. 4 Desirous of knowing all he could about this new king, whom did Herod consult? What were the chief priests? ANs. The chief among those who were appointed to offer sacrifices, and conduct the other services of the temple. And what were scribes? ANS. Scribes, among the Jews, were learned men, who studied and explained the laws of God which were given by Moses, as well as the writings of the prophets. What question did Herod ask the chiefpriests and scribes? 5 And where did they tell Herod that Christ should be born? What reason had they for thinking so? | By the prophet Micah, they meant, who lived more than 700 years before Jesus was born-but what were prophets? ANS. The prophets were good men whom God appointed to reveal his will, and to tell beforehand what would take place, especially about Jesus Christ. 6 What did the prophet Micah say, about the place where Christ should be born? 7 After this, Herod privately consulted the wise men-what did he ask them? 8 Then whither did Herod send them? And what did he tell them to do at Bethlehem? And when they had found the young child, what were they to do? What reason did Herod give why they should do that? But this was not Herod's real reason can you tell me what was? 9 After the wise men left Herod, what appeared to them? How far did it go before them? 10 Seeing the star again, how dld the wise men feel? 11 On entering the house, at Bethlehem, whom did they see? And what did they do? But their religion did not consist in worship only what else did they do? 12 Then they returned to their own country, but not by the same road as they came-why not? 13 And after they were gone what appeared to Joseph, Mary's husband? In what way did the angel appear to Joseph? These dreams seem very important things -then should we not pay great attention to dreams? ANs. It was common, in former times, for God to make known his mind to men by causing them to dream; but, the scriptures being finished, it is not so now: and therefore, though it was right for the people who lived in those times to regard their very remarkable dreams, it is not right for us to place any dependance on what we happen to dream. In Joseph's dream, whither did the angel tell him to fiee, with his family? Where was Egypt? ANS. Egypt was a kingdom south-west of Palestine, near to that part called Judea. How long was Joseph to remain in Egypt? Until who brought him word? But what occasion was there for Joseph and his family to leave Bethlehem? 14 How soon did Joseph do as the angel told him? 15 And how long did he stay in Egypt? 16 The history now returns to Herod: finding that the wise men did not do as he had desired them, how did he feel? And what did he do? How came he to kill only such children as were not more than two years old? After a time, this wicked man died, to the great joy of all Judea, though he had contrived, as he thought, a plan which would cause very general mourning-what was it? ANS. Knowing that he was so hated by the Jews that the news of his death would be received with joy, he imprisoned all the nobility and gentry in Judea, and gave orders that when he died they should all be murdered; that thus there might be a general mourning at the time of his death. 19 But the persons to whom this order was given were too humane to execute it, and therefore they liberated the prisoners before they published the death of the king. On the death of the king, the angel |