Chapter XXIV: 1. Q. What may we learn from this first verse?

_A._ That we should rise early in the morning on the Lord’s-day,
and offer him the spices and odours of praise and thanksgiving.

4. Q. _What is meant by the two men?_

_A._ Two angels in the shape of men.

7. Q. _Why must the Son of Man be crucified?_

_A._ Because we had deserved to be accursed by GOD; and
crucifixion being an accursed death, (for it is written,
“cursed is every one that hangeth upon a tree”) he became a
curse for us.

11. Q. _What may we learn from the disciples not believing the
women’s report?_

_A._ That we ought more firmly to believe the truth of our
blessed LORD’s resurrection, since his own disciples were the
last who gave credit to it.

14. Q. _What may we learn from hence?_

_A._ That christians ought to talk of good things as they walk
together.

17. Q. _What from hence?_

_A._ That JESUS CHRIST takes notice of the conversation, and
more especially of the griefs of his people.

26. Q. _Why must CHRIST rise again and enter into glory?_

_A._ To assure us GOD was satisfied for our sins; that he was
no impostor or cheat; and to assure us of the resurrection of
our bodies after death.

Q. _Why must he rise the third day?_

_A._ Because if he had continued longer, the body must have
seen corruption; and then the prophecy would not have been
fulfilled, which says, that “GOD’s Holy One was not to see
corruption.” Nor would he have fulfilled the type of _Jonah_.

28. Q. _What may we learn from CHRIST’s first refusing to go in?_

_A._ That in small matters, though we may at first refuse a
thing, yet we may afterwards, without forfeiting our words,
comply therewith; it being supposed, that we promised on the
supposition we had no better reason to the contrary.

29. Q. _What may we learn from hence?_

_A._ That we should, when evening comes on, constrain CHRIST
by our prayers, to tarry with and watch over us all night.

30. Q. _What may we learn from hence?_

_A._ That we should never presume to eat, without first asking
a blessing.

31. Q. _What may we learn from CHRIST’s vanishing so soon out of
their sight?_

_A._ That the spiritual visits of JESUS CHRIST in this life,
are but of a short continuance; which should set us upon
preparing for that place, where we shall see and be with Him
to all eternity, without interruption.

36. Q. _What may we learn from CHRIST’s saying to his disciples,
“Peace be to you,” though they had all so lately forsook him?_

_A._ That we ought never to upbraid those who have offended
us, when they give marks of repentance; and also, this should
encourage sinners to hope for blessings from JESUS CHRIST,
though they have sinned against him.

45. Q. _What may we learn from hence?_

_A._ That it is impossible to understand the scriptures,
without the illumination of the Spirit of JESUS CHRIST: “For
the natural man discerneth not the things of the Spirit.”

Q. _Ought we therefore to pray before we read the scriptures?_

_A._ Yes, by all means.

49. Q. _What is meant by the promise of the Father?_

_A._ The Holy Ghost, which was to come upon the Apostles at
the feast of Pentecost.

53. Q. _What is meant by their being continually in the temple?_

_A._ That they were there at all hours of public prayer.

Q. _What should we learn from thence?_

_A._ That we ought to go and do likewise.

JOHN, CHAPTER I.

Q. _Who was the author of this gospel?_

_A._ _John_, the disciple whom JESUS loved.

Q. _Why did he write it?_

_A._ To confound the heresy of _Ebion_ and _Cerinthus_,
who denied the divinity of our blessed LORD: and therefore,
through the whole gospel we find he takes all opportunities of
proving, that JESUS CHRIST was very GOD of very GOD; another
thing he had in view when he wrote it, was to supply what was
wanting in the other Evangelists; therefore he chiefly relates
to us those particulars which the other Evangelists had
omitted.

Q. _What may we learn from GOD’s permitting some of the
Evangelists to leave out what the others put in, and again
some inserting what others have left out?_

_A._ That GOD would hereby oblige us to read all; and also to
exercise our understanding, that by comparing spiritual things
with spiritual, we might find out the truth.

1. Q. _Who is meant by the Word?_

_A._ JESUS CHRIST.

Q. _Is there any proof in this verse, that JESUS CHRIST is
GOD?_

_A._ Yes: “And the Word was GOD.”

Q. _Why was it necessary that JESUS our Saviour should be GOD?_

_A._ Because it was impossible for any creature to satisfy for
our sins.

3. Q. _Is here any proof of the Divinity of CHRIST?_

_A._ Yes: because the work of creation is ascribed to him.

4. Q. _Is there any proof of it in this verse?_

_A._ Yes: “In him was life.” For whosoever has life in or of
himself, must be GOD.

5. Q. _Who is meant by the word “light.”_

_A._ JESUS CHRIST, who came to enlighten us, by revealing
GOD’s will to us.

Q. _What mean you by the word “darkness?”_

_A._ The dark minds of men.

11. Q. _What is meant by the word “own?”_

_A._ The Jews, who were GOD’s peculiar people.

13. Q. _Can you paraphrase this verse?_

_A._ Which were born not of blood, _i. e._ not by any natural
generation; nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of
man, _i. e._ not by human adoption, but of GOD, or by the free
grace and power of GOD only.

14. Q. _What does the Evangelist allude to here?_

_A._ The tabernacle, with the shekinah, or glorious appearance
that used to be in it; which were types of JESUS CHRIST: the
former representing his humanity, the latter his divinity
residing or abiding in it. It is therefore said in the margin
of some bibles, “Tabernacled amongst us,” plainly alluding to
the Jewish tabernacle in the wilderness.

16. Q. _What mean you by these words, “Grace for grace?”_

_A._ That CHRIST came to give us grace, that we might get
more of it: or rather it should be rendered, “Grace _upon_
grace.” For JESUS CHRIST came to purchase for us not only a
sufficiency, but an abundance of grace.

41. Q. _What may we learn from hence?_

_A._ That when we are converted ourselves, we should endeavour
to bring others, especially our own relations, to the
knowledge of JESUS CHRIST.

Q. _What may we learn from these words, “We have found the
Messiah?”_

_A._ That young converts are very apt to think they have
apprehended CHRIST, whereas they are rather apprehended by him.

49. Q. _What may we learn from |Nathaniel|’s behaviour, and
CHRIST’s answer?_

_A._ That a child-like simplicity, is the best preparative for
the reception of divine truth.

51. Q. _When was this fulfilled?_

_A._ _Acts_ i. when his disciples saw him carried up into
heaven; and it will be more fully accomplished, when JESUS
CHRIST shall come to judgment in the glory of his Father, with
his holy angels, to be admired by his saints.