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St. Matthew and St. Mark have been submitted to the public, with the determination of publishing the remaining Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles, when the Author shall discover what reception this shall meet with. pretends to no originality; all its matter is derived from various works of Divinity, within the reach of every person, who has a library. Subjects of controversy have been in general avoided, as tending more to injure and perplex the infant mind than to enlighten and instruct it. However, it has been judged necessary occasionally to point out to the children the differences which exist between the Reformed and Roman Catholic Religion, as incredible exertions are making every where to seduce the members of the Church of England, and to proselyte them to the Romish persuasion. It should be fully and clearly understood that this work is not meant to supersede the Holy Scriptures, the fountain of all truth, but, on the contrary, it is earnestly recommended to the parent to withhold it from the children, and only to permit them to read the New Testament. For Parents and Teachers alone this book is intended, for the purpose of assisting them in preparing the children for their weekly examination.

There is another observation which I would wish to make, viz., that the child should not be examined in the general questions until he has become perfectly acquainted with the questions arising immediately from the chapter itself, which may not be until, perhaps, even the third time of going over the Gospels. It is also suggested that the parent or instructor should (at the first time) omit those questions which appear too difficult for the child's comprehension. Such questions as can be omitted

until the second time of going over it, may be marked with a pencil by the parent. This plan is recommended as it was found to be impossible to place the easy and difficult questions in different sections, and, at the same time, preserve the sense and connexion. The child, in every instance where it is practicable, should be obliged to answer in the words of the Scripture; but the Author recommends that he should be permitted, where Scripture does not supply a direct answer, to make use of his own natural expressions, as well to prevent his merely getting off the answers by rote, as also to cause him to understand and recollect the substance of it better, and to give him an opportunity of exercising his own reasoning faculties. It is with these suggestions humbly offered, that the Author ventures to submit the present work to the public; and happy shall he conceive himself if the Lord blesses it with his favour so as to lessen the trouble of the teacher, and at the same time to make the study of the Holy Scriptures more interesting to the child.

GOSPEL OF ST. MATTHEW,

PARAPHRASED,

AND PUT INTO

QUESTION AND ANSWER.

CHAPTER I.

1. WHAT is the meaning of the term "Gospel?" A. It signifies "glad tidings," "joyful news."

2. What "glad tidings", what "joyful news" are communicated by the Gospels? A. The manner in which we can obtain eternal happiness in the next life through the atonement of the Son of God, the history of whose life whilst upon earth is therein related.

3. By whom was this Gospel written? A. By St. Matthew, one of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 4. What should we do before we read these Gospels? A. We should humbly and sincerely pray to God that we may be made "wise unto salvation through faith in Jesus Christ," who is there set forth, and that his Holy Spirit may guide us to the practice of those precepts contained therein. 5. Why should we value the contents of the Old and New Testament more highly than those of any other book? 4. Not only because they teach us how to be happy both here and hereafter', but also because the history and doc

The necessity of using the Scriptures as our guide may be clearly proved by referring to the following, among many other passages. 2 Tim. iii. 15, 16. Psalm xix. 7. John v. 39. xx. 31. Rom. xv. 4. Acts xvii. 11. Mark xii. 24, &c.

B

trines they contain were written by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, and therefore must be true.

6. What do you mean by these Books being written "by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost?" A. That it was the Holy Spirit which directed the prophets and apostles to write those things contained in the Bible, gave them wisdom and understanding to do so, and prevented their setting down any thing but the truth 1.

7. Who is the Holy Spirit, or Holy Ghost? A. One of the Three Persons of the eternal Godhead, who, together with the Father and the Son, constitute the Holy and Undivided Trinity.

8. What is the meaning of the term "Generation ?" A. It means family, descent, genealogy, ancestors, &c.

9. What is meant by "the book of the generation?" A. It is the title of that part of the first chapter containing the genealogy and birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

v. 1.

10. Why is it necessary to have the particulars of our Lord's genealogy mentioned? A. To shew that the prophecies were fulfilled which declared that he should be descended from Abraham and David. Vide Luke i. 32. Gen. xii. 3, and xxii. 18. 2 Sam. vii. 12. Psalm cxxxii. 11, &c. &c. &c.

11. What is a prophecy? A. A foretelling, by the influence of the all-wise Spirit of God, what will hereafter come to pass.

12. What is the meaning of the term "Christ?" A. It is the same with "Messiah," that is, "Anointed."

13. Why is Jesus called the "Anointed? A. Because he was a prophet, a priest, and a king, and such persons were always anointed with oil 2.

14. How was Jesus Christ the son of David and of Abraham? A. He was descended from them by his mo

That the Holy Scriptures were written by persons under the influence and direction of God's Holy Spirit is proved by consulting the annexed quotations, viz. 2 Tim. iii. 16. 2 Pet. i. 19, 20, 21. Deut. vi. 7, &c. John xii. 48. xiv, 26. Acts xxviii. 25. 1 Cor. ii. 10, 11, 12, 13. Acts ii. 4, &c. Matt. xxviii. 20 and 43. John xx. 22. There are many other passages in support of this assertion.

2 Vide Psalm cv. 15. Isaiah xlv. 1. lxi. 1. Lev. iv. 3. 1 Sam. ii.

10, &c.

ther's side, and by his reputed father; Abraham was the ancestor of David, and David of Christ.

15. Who was Abraham? A. The son of Terah. It was with him God made the promise that in his seed should "all the nations of the earth be blessed" by the Messiah being born in his family.-Gen. xii. 3.

16. Who was David? A. The son of Jesse. He was successor to Saul king of Israel and the inspired author of the greater part of the Psalms.-Vide 1 & 2 Sam. 17. What is the meaning of the term "Jesus?" signifies a "Saviour."

A. It

18. What is Heaven? A. It is that place of eternal happiness prepared by God in his mercy for the righteous.

19. What is Hell? A. That place of torment and misery where the wicked will be punished for ever in neverceasing fire1. Matt. xxv. 41. xiii. 42.

20. How many generations from Abraham to David? A. Fourteen.-v. 17.

21. How many generations from David to the carrying away into Babylon? A. Fourteen.

22. What is meant by the " carrying away into Babylon?" A. It alludes to the children of the kingdom of Judah being carried away into Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Assyria, where they continued in captivity for seventy years, after which they were allowed to return to their own country. Vide 2 Kings xxiv. 12. Ezek. xl. 1. Dan. i. 2.

23. How many generations from "the carrying away into Babylon" to Christ? A. Fourteen.

24. How many generations does St. Matthew enumerate, beginning from Abraham to Christ? A. Forty-two, if we suppose an additional name introduced after Josiah 3.

1 The term Hell as a different signification in the Creed, "He descended into Hell." Vide Pearson on the Creed.

2 This captivity took place about 606 years before the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. It was foretold, 2 Kings xx. 17. Isaiah xxxix. 7.

3 Commentators differ as to the name omitted here. The marginal reference of our Bible mentions Jachim. There were, besides this, some other names omitted in this genealogy, immediately after Joram, and before Ozias. Vide 1 Chron. iii. 11, 12. But these omissions are nowise material, as St. Matthew's object was merely to trace the descent of our Lord from the stock of Abraham. Our Lord himself is called the Son of David, and all the intermediate names of his ancestors are passed

over.