describes at large (ii.), — and to answer the scoffs of those who taunted them respecting the coming of Christ, and the day of the Lord, which was to destroy their enemies, and bring them deliverance. This is done by assuring them, that it was at hand, "hasting ;" and that they must be prepared for the new order of things which was to follow the judgments, that were to end the old dispensation.

7. JOHN, AND HIS EPISTLES. The author of these Epistles is the same with the Evangelist, an account of whom is given in chapter iii. paragraph 8. The first Epistle was written just before the destruction of Jerusalem, about A. D. 68 or 69; but where it was written is not known. It sets forth certain things respecting the character and authority of Christ, - shows the difference between true Christians and false; and earnestly and affectionately exhorts the believers to follow Christ, and to walk as children of light, in brotherly kindness and love, having communion with God, who is perfect love. The second and third Epistles were written probably at Ephesus, and probably about A. D. 68 or 69. This, however, is very uncertain. The second commends the elect Lady for the religious education of her children ; exhorts her to be faithful to the truth; and warns her against false teachers. The third approves the faith and hospitality of Gaius, and exhorts him to fidelity and good works.

8. JUDE, AND HIS EPISTLE. All we know of Jude is, that he was brother of James the Less,

who wrote the Epistle of James; and was one of the twelve. We are not informed when he was called, where he preached, nor of the time or manner of his death. His Epistle was written a. D. 65, but at what place is not known, nor to whom addressed. It exhorts the believers to stand fast in the faith, and to beware of those who "turn the grace of God into lasciviousness, denying the only Lord God, and the Lord Jesus Christ." The judgments in times past upon such are mentioned; and all are exhorted to be pure and strong in the Gospel, that they may escape. It is remarkable, that Jude quotes from two apocryphal works or traditions, from the "Prophecies of Enoch," vs. 14, 15, and the story of the body of Moses, v. 9.

9. It should be observed, that the Second of Peter, Second and Third of John, and the Epistle of Jude, have from the earliest period been disputed books; that is, it has been questioned, whether those persons, whose names they bear, were the real authors.

QUESTIONS ON CHAPTER V.

1. 2. 3. Give the number and names of the Catholic Epistles. What is the meaning of Catholic, and why are they so called? How many persons are mentioned in the New Testament by the name of James? What of the first? What of the second? What of his character? What was the manner and date of his death? When and

where was his Epistle written? To whom addressed? What was the design? What other particularly impor tant object is named? How do you reconcile Paul and James, touching faith and works?

4. 5. 6. What is said of Peter? What was his occupation? Give Matthew's account of his call. What is said of him after this? What instance of his zeal is mentioned? What is said of his denial of Christ? What was his conduct after the resurrection? What was his character? What evidence have you of this? What further is said of him. Where, how, and when was he put to death? What is the date of his first Epistle? Where written? To whom is it addressed? In what part of the world are these countries? To what power are they subject now? To the churches in which of these countries did Paul write an Epistle? Under what circumstances was it written? Its design? What exhortations are set forth? What do you understand by the "end of all things"? What by the "judgment " which begun at "the house of God"? Who were "the house of God"? Date and place of writing the second of Peter? What was its object? What was the day of the Lord, which he says was hasting"? Why was this matter of joy for the Christians?

7. 8. 9. What do you know of the author of the Epistles of John? Where and when was the first Epistle written? What are its contents? What is the date, and the place of writing, of the Second and Third? What is the object of the Second? Of the Third? What have you to say of Jude? What is said of his Epistle? What are its contents? What remarkable particular is mentioned of the Epistle of Jude? Can you give the substance of the quotations? What is said of certain of the Catholic Epistles, and which are they?

CHAPTER VI.

Description of Palestine.

1. Names. The country in question is called, in Scripture, the Land of Canaan, because it was first settled, as is supposed, by Canaan, the youngest son of Ham, the son of Noah. It was called the Land of Promise, because God promised it to Abraham and his seed as an inheritance. Gen. xiii. 14, 15. It received the name of Land of Israel from the Israelites, or the posterity of Jacob, who settled there. The Land of Judah was at first applied only to that part allotted to the tribe of Judah; but, during the existence of the second temple, and under the dominion of the Romans, Judea was the name of the whole country. The appellation of Holy Land, has been given it by Christians, because it was the spot, chosen of God, for the more direct display of his presence and power; and the place of the Saviour's ministry, of his miracles, sufferings, and death. This name was not unknown to the Hebrews, for we find it used by the prophet Zechariah, ii. 12. Palestine is derived from the Philistines, a people or tribe who are supposed to have migrated from Egypt, and settled in the western borders of this country, near the Mediterranean Sea.

2. Extent and Divisions. Palestine lies at the eastern extremity of the Mediterranean Sea, the western coast being washed by its waters, and having Syria on the North, and Arabia on the South and East. It is now a part of Turkey in Asia. The more recent, and probably more accurate, statements, make the country about 200 miles in length, and from 30 to 80 or 90 in breadth. In the original allotment of the territory among the twelve tribes, it was, of course, divided into 12 parts, or provinces, each tribe receiving its respective portion, distinct from all the others. After the death of Solomon, the union of the twelve tribes was broken up, and their territories converted into two independent kingdoms, that of Judah, and that of Israel. The kingdom of Israel embraced the northern portion of the country, and that which lay east of the Jordan; and was composed of the ten tribes who revolted from the house of David. The kingdom of Judah occupied the southern division, and took in the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Under the Romans, and during the time of our Saviour, Palestine, west of the Jordan, was divided into the three provinces of Galilee, Samaria, and Judea. Galilee was on the north, and was divided into the Galilee of the Gentiles, or Upper Galilee on the north, and Lower Galilee on the south, situated between the Lake Gennesareth and the Mediterranean Sea. Lower Galilee was the principal seat of Christ's ministry, and the native district of most, if not all, his disciples,