.of banishment, the cause of Christ rapidly extended over all parts of the known world, and genuine religion flourished. Repeat Mat. xxiv. 14. Revela. vii. 1 to end. The great lights and civil powers of the heathen. world were obscured, Rev. vi. 12 to 17. and xii. 5 to 17. Polycarp, Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Athanasius, Ireneus, Cyprian and Augustin were among the most eminent of the early fathers.

Q. 5. How long did this state of things continue? A. In the beginning of the fourth century the church began to be corrupt in doctrine, government and practice, and this continued to increase until the year 606, when the bishop of Rome became a temporal prince, Daniel. vii. 8. and Antichrist foretold in 2 Thess. ii. 3. 1 Timothy iv. 1, &c. began to rise. The church with the exception of the Waldenses and a few more individuals, grew more and more ignorant and corrupt until near the reformation.

Q. 6. What important prophecy was fulfilled during this time?

A. About the year 612 Mahomet arose in the East, Rev. ix. 1 2, 3. and extended his conquests-the soldiers being forbidden to destroy palm and fruit trees→→→ corn and cattle, more than for their own use, Revelation ix. 4. In the year 1050 the Turks erected four kingdoms, Rev. ix. 14. and in the years 1281. or 1298 and in 1672 made their first and last conquest over the christians Rev. ix. 15 to 17. using gunpowder and artillery invented about this time.

Q. 7. Where and when did the Reformation begin?

A. It began in Germany in the year 1517 several reformers having been before burnt and great numbers of the Waldenses slaughtered Rev. xiv. 6 to 8.-It extended notwithstanding great and severe persecutions Rev. xiv. 9 to 18. until the Protestant religion gained its independent footing in all those countries where it now prevails, tho' many thousands were cruelly put to death in the most shocking manner Rev. xiii. 7.-Luther, Calvin, Zuingle, and Malanchton, then, and Huss,

Wickliffe and Jerome before were among the most eminent Reformers.

Q. 8. What important prophecies are yet to be fulfilled?

A. The restoration of the Jews Rom. xi. 2. 2 Cor. iii. 16. Hosea i. 11.-The fall of Antichrist Rev. xviii. 90 to 24. The conversion of all nations and the Millenium, Rev. xx. 4 to 7. Psalms lxxii. 11. Isaiah ii. 2 to 4.xi. 9.-xlix. 28.-lx. Daniel vii. 27. these 1260 days or prophetical years began with the apostacy, Dan. vii. 8.

Q. 9. When were the first churches established in the United States?

A. A Presbyterian church was formed at Plymouth, Massachusetts, to which, being some time destitute of a minister, Mr. Brewster a ruling elder born in England, but last from Holland, preached (though he did not administer the ordinances) for some time and was the first man by whom the gospel was preached in the United States, or at least, north of Virginia. A church was formed in Boston in 1630. The first Presbyterian church constituted as such and remaining so, was organized in 1695, and the first Presbytery in 1716.

Q. 10. What is supposed to be about the present state of the world as it respects the gospel?

A. About 200 millions, of which nearly two thirds are Roman Catholics, are nominally christian-9 million of Jews-160 million of Mahometans, and 631 million of Pagans. This is on the supposition that there is on the globe 1000 million-the real number is no doubt less, though this is about the proportion.

Q. 11. Have special efforts been made for the last 25 years to disseminate the gospel, and has religion appeared to be greatly progressive?

A. Yes. The British and Foreign Bible Society, the Russian Bible Society, with many other important ones on the continent of Europe and elsewhere, and the American Bible Society, each with numerous Auxiliaries, are employed in translating and disseminating the Sacred Scriptures, while the United Brethren's Mission

Society, the London Mission Society, the Baptist Mis sion Society, the Church of England Society, the Edinburgh Mission Society, the Weslean Methodist Mission Society in Europe; and the American Board of Commiss. for For. Missions, the United Foreign Mission Society the Board of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, with many smaller Societies in the United States, are now sending forth the Ministers of the gospel, and establishing Missions in the destitute regions of their own country and among the heathen of Asia, Africa, the wilds of America, and the islands of the southern and eastern ocean

END OF THE FIRST PART..

SERIES OF QUESTIONS &c.

PART II.

DOCTRINAL.

SECTION I.

BEING AND ATTRIBUTES OF GOD.

Question 1. How do you know that there is a God? Answer 1. By his works of creation and providence. Every effect must have a cause. 2 By miraeles aud prophecies. 3 Divine judgments. 4 Common consent of all nations. 5 Conscience. Q. 2. What is an Atheist?

A. One who professes to disbelieve the existence of a God. He contradicts himself. 2 Must prove the existence of a God impossible. 3 Admits the absurdity of supposing the universe eternal—and both a cause and an effect, rejects the evidences of design in it.Romans iv. i. 20.

Q. 3. What is natural religion?

A. That knowledge of God and divine things obtained from other sources than Revelation.

It teaches the being of a God-the dependance and obligations of his creatures-the sinfulness of human nature, but it does not make certain the immortality of the soul-it does not make known the true worship of God-the method of pardon and salvation, and is of course insufficient to lead to Salvation, and has been greatly corrupted.

Sorry

The suminary of Christian doctrine contained in the Larger & Smaller Catechisms, is beyond all comparison better than is likely to be made hereafter, and much more so than ought to be expected in a work of this kind should we be to see any other plan take the place of them. Bible-Classes however are generally composed of young people who are supposed to have passed through them familiarly; and as it has been suggested, that a book of this kind ought not to omit entirely a part of the Bible so important, the following is with great reluctance and diffidence added as a humble auxiliary to them,

Q. 4. What is revealed religion, and where is the true and only revelation to be found?

A It is that system of truth and duty which has been given by God to man and which is recorded in the Sacred Scriptures of the Old and New Testament.

Q. 5. Do the Sacred Scriptures contain the only true account of God? A. Yes..

Q. 6.
6. What is inspiration?

A. It is of three kinds,-1 When the Holy Spirit communicates to the writer both ideas and words-2 When the ideas and truths to be delivered only are communicated. 3 When being preserved infallably, from all errors they are left to use their own ideas and words. All these kinds occur in the bible.

Q. 7. Who are Pagans?

.. A. Those who worship many false gods. 1 They are not eternal, have ascribed to them human and vile passions. 2 Images, beasts, planets and reptiles have not the attributes of God. 3 They believe in the existence of many which is absurd. 4 Rom. i. 20 to 24. Q. 8. Were all the sacred writers divinely inspired of God?

A. 2 Timothy iii. 16. Heb. i. 1. John v. $9.

Q. 9. How do you prove that the scriptures are the infallible word of God?

2 Mira

A. Revelation is possible and necessary. cles. 3 Prophecies. 4 Nature, tendency, unity, unison and sublimity of the scriptures. 5 Effects of christianity 6 Heathen writers attest facts mentioned in the Bible. 7 State of the Jews. $ Opposition to christianity, and yet its prosperity and increase.-9 Testimony of those who have experienced its influence-all concur in its support.

Q. 10.

Who are Deists?

A. Those who deny the inspiration of the Bible.-1 They reject the above evidence without reason.-2 They destroy all the restraints-the morality and consolations of religion, 3 Deism by its effects refutes itself.