307. fover to release fome Prifoner, and he offered to release Jefus to them at that Season, Mark xv. 6, -9.

23 Q. Did the Jews accept of Pilate's Propofal? A. No, they chofe rather to have Barabbas releafed, who was a Robber, and a Murderer, and demanded Jefus to be crucified, ver. 7, 11, 13.

24 Q Did Pilate yield to their Demands? A. Yes, at laft he released Barabbas; and when he had fcourged Jefus, he delivered him to be crucified, even against his own Confcience, ver. 15.

25 Q. How came Pilate to be perfuaded to crutify an innocent Man? A. He did it partly to please the Jews, and partly left he should be counted an Enemy to Cafar if he fpared Chrift, who did not deny himself to be a King, Mark xv. 15, John xix. 12, 13.

26 Q. What further Indignities were caft on our Saviour? A. They ftripped him of his own Cloaths, they put on him a fcarlet Robe in mockery, because he did not deny himself to be the King of the Jews; they platted a Crown of Thorns and put it on his Head, with a Reed in his Right Hand; they bowed the Knee before him, they mocked him, faying, Hail, King of the Jews! they fmote him with a Reed, and fpit upon him, Mark xv. 17-19.

27 Q. How did the bleffed Jefns carry it under all thefe Afflictions? A. Being reviled, he reviled not again, but ftood before his Accufers and his Judges as an innocent Lamb ftands filent before the Shearers; and made very few Replies to all their Acufations, Charges, and Enquiries, Mark xiv. 61. Acts viii. 31. 1 Pet. ii. 23.

28 Q. In what manner did they crucify him? A. They put his own Garments on him again,

they

they carried him to Calvary, the Place of Execution, and there they nailed him on the Cross; where they alfo crucified two Malefactors, one or his Right-hand, and the other on his left, Mark xv. 20. Luke xxiii. 33.

29 Q. Did our Saviour then make no Refiftance, nor give a Rebuke to their wicked Cruelty A. He only prayed for them, and faid, Father, forgive them for they know not what they do, Luke xxiii.

34.

30 Q. What was the Infcription set over his Head? A. This is Jefus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews; and it was written in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, John xix. 19.

31 Q. What Affronts did be fuffer on the Cross? A. When the Soldiers had caft Lots for his Garments, the Rulers mocked him, many of the Jews reviled him, and so did one of the Thieves that was crucifyed with him, Luke xxiii. 34-39.

32 Q. How did the other Thief carry it towards bim? A. He rebuked his Fellow, he acknowledged his own Guilt, and the Innocence of Chrift; he prayed that Jefus would remember him when he came into his Kingdom, Luke xxiii. 40—42.

33 Q. What Answer did Chrift make to his Faith and Prayer? A. Jefus faid, Verily, to day fhalt thou be with me in Paradife, ver. 43.

34 Q. What refpect did Jefus pay to his own Mother Mary, when he faw her near the Cross? A. He commended her to the care of John, his beloved Difciple; and from that time John took her to his own Houfe, John xix. 26, 27.

35 Q. What were fome of the laft Words of Jefus on the Cross? A. He cried out, My God, my God, why haft thou forfaken me? And a little after he faid, It is finished; then he cryed with a loud Voice,

Father,

Father, into thy Hand I commend my Spirit, and died immediately, Mark xv. 34. Luke xxiii. 46. John xix. 30.

36 Q. What remarkable Occurrences attended the Death of Chrift? A. 1. At the fixth Hour there was Darkness over the whole Land till the ninth : i. e. from Noon till three o'Clock in the Afternoon,

Mark xv. 33..

2. The Veil of the Temple which divided the holy Place from the Holy of Holies, was rent from the top to the bottom.

3. There was an Earthquake, the Rocks were rent, Graves were then opened, and many of the pious Dead arofe after his Refurrection, and appeared to feveral Perfons in Jerufalem, Matth. xxvii. 51-53.

4. The Centurion who guarded the Crucifixion of Chrift, feeing these things, was conftrained to confefs, Surely this Man was the Son of God, Mark xv. 39.

37 Q. What was done to the Body of Jefus after his Death? A. When they broke the Legs of the Thieves who were crucified, that they might die the fooner, and be taken down from the Crofs before the Sabbath, they broke not the Legs of efus, because he was already dead: but a Soldier pierced his Side with a Spear, and there iffued Blood and Water, John xix. 31-37.

38 Q. How was Jelus buried? A. Joseph of Arimathea, a rich Man, went to Pilate, begged the Body of Jefus, wrapped it in clean Linen, with Spices, laid it in his own new Tomb, and rolled a great Stone to the Door of the Sepulchre, Mark xv. 43-46. Luke xxiii. 56. John xix. 40.

39 Q. What was done by the Enemies of Chrift to fecure him from rifing again? A. The Jews

defired

defired Pilate to fet a Guard of Soldiers about the Sepulchre ; and that they might know if the Tomb has been opened, they fealed the Stone that was rolled to the Door of it, Matt. xxvii. 62—66.

SECT. II. Of the Refurrection and Appearances of CHRIST.

40Q. How did Jefus arife from the Dead? A. Early on the first Day of the Week there was a great Earthquake, an Angel rolled back the Stone from the Door and fat upon it, his Countenance was like Lightning, and his Raiment white as Snow; the Keepers fhook for fear, and Jesus rofe and departed, Matth. xxvii. 1-4.

41 Q. What was the firft Notice the Apoftles of Chrift had of his Refurrection? A. Early in the Morning after the Sabbath, fome good Women came to bring Spices and Ointments to anoint the Body, and they found the Stone rolled away from the Sepulchre; and an Angel told them Jefus was rifen, and bid them go tell his Difciples, Mark xvi. 1-8.

42 Q. Which of the Apostles came to the Sepulchre to examine this Matter? A. Peter and John both went to the Sepulchre, and found the Linnen Cloaths and the Napkin, in which the Body was wrapped, and were convinced that Jefus was risen, John xx. 1-10.

43 Q. What Story did the Jews tell concerning the Refurrection of Chrift? A. When the Guards told the Chief-Priests what was done, the Priefts and Elders bribed them largely to fay, that while they fell asleep, his Difciples came by Night and ftole him away, Matth. xxviii. 11, 12, 13.

44 Q. How then did the Soldiers come off with the Governor? A. The Priefts perfuaded the Governor to forgive them for fleeping, ver. 14.

45 Q. To whom did Jesus appear after his Refurrection? A. First to Mary Magdalene, afterwards to two Difciples going to Emmaus, then to the Apoftles affembled, without Thomas; and all this on the Day of his Resurrection: Afterward he appeared to the Apoftles when Thomas was with them, again at the Sea of Tiberias to feven of his Difci. ples, then to eleven Difciples on a Mountain in Galilee; then near Jerufalem, when he ascended to

Heaven.

46 Q. How long did he continue on Earth after his Refurrection? A. He continued forty Days, giving his Difciples further Inftructions in the great things of the Gofpel, which they were not prepared to receive before his death, A&ts i. 3. John xvi. 12.

47Q. How did he appear to Mary Magdalene? A. When the found not Jefus in the Tomb, fhe turned away from the Sepulche, and the faw efus, but knew him not, till he called her by her Name, John xx. 14, 15, 16.

48 Q. What did he fay to her? A. Touch me not at prefent, but go to my Brethren, and tell them, I afcend to my Father, and your Father, to my God and your God, ver. 17.

49 Q. How did he appear to his two Difciples going to Emmaus? A. He joined himself to them as they were walking, he reproved them for their Unbelief, he proved to them out the Prophets, that the Meffiah was to fuffer Death, and to enter into Glory: He went into the House and eat with them; and when they began to know him, he vamifhed out of their Sight, Luke xxiv. 13-31.