22. When he came out, what took place? What did they perceive?

How did they perceive this?

What is meant by a "vision"?

23. What came to pass?

What is meant by "the days of his ministration"? How long did one course of priests minister in the temple at one time?

Does God hear and answer the prayers of Christians at the present day?

How must prayer be offered to be accepted?
In whose name must we pray and why?

24, 25. Whom did Elisabeth acknowledge as the author of all mercies?

26. Who was sent from God? To what city was he sent?

Where is Galilee ?

How far was Nazareth from Jerusalem ?

27. To whom was the angel sent ?
What was the virgin's name?
What is meant by "espoused"?

What is meant by "the house of David"?
Who was David?

28. What did the angel say to Mary?

22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.

23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

How was Mary highly favoured?

What did the angel mean by saying "Hail!" to
Mary?

Is it right to worship Mary, or to pray to her?
Why?

29. How did Mary feel when she saw the angel?

What is meant by her "casting in her mind”?
Why was she troubled?

10

30. What did the angel say?

Why should she not fear?

What is it to find favour with God?

How can sinners find favour with him?

31. What was to be the name of Mary's son?

32. What was he to be?

What was he to be called?

Who is the "Highest"?

What was the Lord God to give him? How could Jesus be the Son of the Highest, and also the son of David?

33. Over whom was he to reign? How long was he to reign?

What is said about his kingdom?

What is meant by the "house of Jacob"?

Why were the Jews called the "house of Jacob"? Was Christ to reign in the same manner as David did?

29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name JESUS.

32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

What is the difference between David as a king, and Christ as a king?

34. What did Mary say to the angel?

35. How did the angel answer her? Who is the Holy Ghost?

36. What did the angel say about Elisabeth?

37. What is said in this verse?

What does that mean?

38. What did Mary say? What did the angel do?

What is a "handmaid”?

What did she mean by "handmaid of the Lord”?

LESSON III.

Mary's Song of Praise.

Luke i. 39-56.

39. WHERE did Mary go?

What district of country is meant by this? 40. Into whose house did she enter? Whom did she salute?

34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.

38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

139 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;

40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

What is it to "salute," as the word is here used? 41. What is the meaning of being "filled with the Holy Ghost"?

42-45. [The mysterious incarnation of the Son of God, lying as it does at the foundation of the Christian system, should be so presented to the minds of the young as to make an intelligent and abiding impression of the fact that Christ became flesh and dwelt among men-that he took not upon him the nature of angels, but the seed of Abraham, and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, (even the death of the cross,) that through his humiliation, obedience, sufferings and death, he might open a way for the eternal redemption of his people. What degree of minuteness may be proper in instructing a class on this subject, must be left to the discretion of the teacher.]

46. What is it to "magnify" the Lord?

47. What does the expression "God my Saviour" imply?

48. What should all generations call her? Why was she to be so called?

Does this justify any act of worship or religious veneration being shown to her?

41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

49-53. What general truths may we learn from these verses respecting God's dealings with men? Upon whom is the mercy of God?

What is it to fear God?

Who are meant by the " hungry"?

Who are meant by the "rich"?

54. Who is meant by "his servant Israel"? 55. Who are meant by "our fathers"?

56. With whom did Mary abide three months?

LESSON IV.

Birth of John the Baptist.

Luke i. 58-80.

58. WHAT did Elisabeth's friends do when
they heard of the birth of John?
59. What was done on the eighth day?

Who instituted the rite of circumcision?
Why did they come on the "eighth" day?
What name did they give to the child?

49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

51 He hath showed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

54 He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; 55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. 56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

57 Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had showed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.

59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.