7. By what parable does he rebuke their spiritual pride?-By the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican. Luke xviii. 9-14. 8. What does he compare them to for their hypocrisy ?-Unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Matt. xxiii. 27, 28. 9. In what most striking words does he declare to them their sin and danger?" Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?"-Matt. xxiii. 33. 10. What set of men are commonly named in connection with the Pharisees?-The Scribes. 11. Were they a different sect?-No; they were not a sect, but a profession. 12 What was their profession?—To write out copies of the Law, and to expound the Law to the people. 13. Did they belong to any particular sect?— They belonged chiefly to the sect of the Pharisees. 14. By what other names are the Scribes sometimes called?-They are called sometimes lawyers, doctors of the law, and rabbis. 15. Name two texts which prove that lawyers and scribes mean the same?-Matt. xxii. 34, 35, 36, and Mark xii. 28. 16. What were the peculiar opinions of the Sadducees?-They say that there is no resurrection, neither angel nor spirit. Acts xxiii. 8. 17. Was this sect a numerous or a popular one? No. It was small in point of numbers, and consisted chiefly of rich and great people. 18. What were the Herodians?-They were not a religious sect, but a political party, attached to King Herod. 19. What sort of conduct and principles were they noted for?-Irreligious and licentious. 20. By what name does our Lord distinguish their doctrine ?-The leaven of Herod. Mark viii. 15. 21. What is the meaning of the term proselytes? It means strangers, Gentiles who had embraced the Jewish religion. 22. Of these proselytes there were two classes, how were they distinguished?-The proselytes of the gate, and the proselytes of the covenant. 23. What were the proselytes of the gate?Persons not circumcised, and who did not observe the ceremonial Law, but simply worshipped the God of Israel. - 24. What were proselytes of the covenant?Persons circumcised and observing the whole ceremonial Law, like the Jews. 25. What was the difference between Priests and Levites ?-Both were of the tribe of Levi; but the Priests were Levites, descended from Aaron's family; the Levites were not of Aaron's family, and were employed in the inferior offices of the temple. 26. What is meant by the elders?-Members of the great council of the Jews. See Luke xxii. 66. 27. Who were the Samaritans ?-Inhabitants of Samaria, a country lying north of Jerusalem. 28. What people inhabited that country before them?-The ten tribes of Israel. 29. What became of the ten tribes of Israel? -They were carried into captivity by Shalmanezer, King of Assyria. See 2 Kings xvii. 6. 30. What people did Shalmanezer place in their stead?-Men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim. 2 Kings xvii. 24. 31. What were the people who were called Samaritans in our Lord's days?-They were a mixture of these Cuthites, and of the ancient ten tribes of Israel. 32. Were the Jews and the Samaritans friendly? -No. The Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans. John iv. 7-9. 33. Does our Lord approve of the religion of the Samaritans ?-No. John iv. 22. TERMS USED IN THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER. 1. What are the Sundays before Christmas called?-Advent Sundays. 2. What is the meaning of the word Advent? -It means coming. 3. For what purpose were these four Advent Sundays set apart?-To prepare our minds for the celebration of our Lord's coming in the flesh. 4. On what day do we celebrate that event?On Christmas Day. 5. What is the meaning of the word Epiphany? -A shewing, or making manifest. 6. What great event do we celebrate on the day called the Epiphany ?-The manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles. 7. What denoted the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles?-The appearance of the star on this day, to the wise men from the East, who were Gentiles, and which guided them to the place where the young child Jesus was. 8. On February 2nd is the Feast of the Purification, what is meant by it?-On that day the purification of the Virgin was accomplished, and we celebrate the child Jesus being brought to Jerusalem by his parents, to present him to the Lord, according to the law of Moses; and to offer a sacrifice of a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons. Luke ii. 22-24. 9. On March 25th is the Feast of the Annunciation, what is meant by it?-On that day we celebrate the angel Gabriel's coming from God, to announce to Mary that she should be the mother of the Messiah. Luke i. 26-31. 10. What is the meaning of the word Lent?It is an ancient Saxon word, signifying Spring. 11. What period of time is called Lent?Forty days, counting from the first day of Lent, but not reckoning Sundays. 12. What is the first day of Lent called?— Ash Wednesday. 13. Why was the day so called?-Because on that day the ancient Christians used to humble themselves after the manner of the Jews, in sackcloth and ashes. See Dan. ix. 3. 14. What particular service is ordered to be read in the Church of England on Ash Wednesday?-The Commination Service. 15. What is meant by Commination?-It means a threatening. 16. What is the intention of the Commination service? To denounce God's threatenings against sinners. 17. At the end of every threatening read, |