what he said. Will it do us any good to hear, read, or learn, without understanding the sense? No. What, then, should be the great concern of Sabbath-school teachers? To make the children understand the meaning of every thing they read or learn at school. And, in order to this, what plan should be adopted? That of putting questions, and giving explanations. Is it sufficient to put the questions that are found in catechisms? No; the questions must be multiplied and varied, to stir up the mind of the learner. When a question is put, how does a learner sometimes answer? As our Lord's disciples did at first-without understanding what the teacher says. And is our work done, if we make our scholars understand the meaning of Holy Scripture? No; a teacher must try to make them feel and practise that which is good. Is it in our power to do that? By the blessing of God we may be the instruments of spiritual good to those who are taught. Will that be a great reward of our labour? A very great re ward. 13. Did Jesus and his disciples pursue their journey by water? Yes. Where did they go ashore? At Bethsaida.* Did our Lord leave some token What of his power and grace, at every stage of his progress? Yes; He went about doing good.+ miracles of mercy did he perform, in passing through Bethsaida? He led a blind man out of the town, *Mark viii. 22. + Acts x. 38. and restored him to sight.* What is the next "He place at which our Lord arrived? "The coasts of Cesarea Philippi.” What is meant by the "coasts" of Cesarea? The neighbourhood of that place. What is Cesarea Philippi? A town near the spring-head of the river Jordan.† What took place in the neighbourhood of this town? A most important conversation between our Lord and his disciples. On what subject? Respecting the dignity of our Lord's person. How did our Lord commence this deeply interesting discourse? asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" What "men" did our Lord refer to? The common people, who had seen the proofs of his Messiahship. What proofs of his Messiahship had they seen? His miracles. What was there in the miracles of Christ, by which the people could discover their author to be the Messiah? They were wrought with authority.‡ Did our Lord know the sentiments of the people concerning himself? Yes; he had a perfect knowledge of every thought and feeling. Why, then, Because he did he put the foregoing question? would hear the report of his disciples on the subject. 14. And what did they say? 66 They said, Some say, that thou art John the Baptist; some Elias; and * Mark viii. 23, &c. &c. ↑ Anciently Dan-the northern limit of the Holy Land, 1 Sam. iii. 20. + Mark i. 27. others Jeremias, or one of the prophets." was John the Baptist? See iii. 1. Who Was John the Baptist living at this time? No; Herod had put him to death. How then could any persons suppose, that it was John whom they saw? They thought that John the Baptist was risen from the dead. Do you remember who it was who first spread a report of John being risen from the dead? Yes; the guilty monarch, who had murdered him. Who is the next person, whom they took the Lord Jesus to be? "Elias." Who was Elias? The prophet Elijah. Was there, among the Jews, a general expectation that Elijah would appear again on earth? Yes. What was the cause of that expectation? The prediction of Malachi, ch. iv. 5. Who was the person predicted under the name of Elijah? See xi. 14. Who is the next person whom the people thought Jesus might be? Jeremias, or one of the prophets. Did many different opinions prevail concerning Jesus? Yes. And do many different opinions prevail, in our day, on religious subjects? Yes; very many. Among these various opinions, how may we arrive at the truth? By drawing all our religious sentiments from the fountain of truth. What is the fountain of truth? The sacred volume. But do not per How do sons of various opinions, equally quote the authority of the Bible, for their opinions? Yes. you account for this?-does the Bible contradict itself? No, but we are apt to form our opinions first; and then to wrest the Scriptures to our own views. Do good people ever wrest the Scriptures thus? Not designedly; but it is difficult to lay aside our prejudices, and come to the Bible with a teachable spirit. Were any of the opinions, here mentioned concerning our Lord, right? No; they were all wrong. How do you account for it, that none of them discovered him to be the Messiah? Because he had none of the outward pomp and grandeur which the Jews expected would adorn their Messiah. 15. When our Lord had asked his disciples what were the thoughts of others concerning him, how did he further question them? "He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?" Did our Lord frequently catechise his disciples? Yes.* Why did he catechise them? Because it is a useful method of teaching. What are the most useful questions to put, in catechising those whom we teach? Such as are personal, and addressed to the conscience. Was the question, here put by our Lord to his disciples, of that personal kind, and addressed to the conscience? Yes; it concerned each one of them. What was the question? "What think ye of Christ?" Is that an important question? It is a question on which depend all our hopes for eternity.+ *See Matt. xiii. 51. xvi. 15. xvii. 25. xx. 22. John xxi. 15. + "What think ye of Christ? is the test, To try both your state and your scheme; You cannot be right in the rest, Unless you think rightly of Him," 16. Who answered this all-important question? "Si mon Peter." Did Peter answer for himself alone? He answered for himself, and his fellow-apostles. How came Peter to be spokesman on this occasion? He was, on all occasions, more bold and forward to speak than the rest. What did he say? "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." What is the meaning of "the Christ"? See xii. 23. Who were usually anointed? Persons appointed to the offices of prophet,* priest,† and king. ‡ How were persons anointed to those offices? By pouring anointing oil upon their heads. How was our Lord anointed? With the Holy Ghost, and with power. § Why is this title The Anointedgiven to our Lord? Because he is the Prophet, Priest, and King of his Church. What was the second title by which Peter described our Lord? "The Son of the living God." Whom did he mean by "the living God"? Jehovah. Why did Peter here call Jehovah, "the living God"? Το express the fervour of his feelings. What did he mean by the appellation, "The Son" of the living God? That our Lord possessed the same nature with the Father. Was there, in this form of expression, an acknowledgment of Christ's divinity? Yes; it was a profession of faith in the divine dignity of Christ. How was the person of Christ constituted? See xiii. 37. 17. Was this profession of Peter's agreeable to truth? Yes. * 1 Kings xix. 16. Exod. xl. 13. 1 Sam. x. 1. Acts x. 38. |