acy of the Roman Pontiff A. D. 606. This is the period of the Decline of Paganism.

PERIOD FIFTH.

Extends from the Establishment of the Supremacy of the Roman Pontiff A. D. 606, to the First Crusade A. D. 1095. This is the period of the Rise of the Mahometan Imposture.

T

PERIOD SIXTH.

Extends from the First Crusade A. D. 1095, to the commencement of the Reformation by Luther A. D. 1517) This is the period of the Crusades and the Papal Schism.}

PERIOD SEVENTH.

Extends from the Commencement of the Reformation A. D. 1517, to the Peace of Religion concluded at Augsburg, A. D. 1555. This is the period of the Reformation.

PERIOD EIGHTH.

Extends from the Peace of Religion, A. D. 1555, to the present time. This is the period of the Puritans.

THE PERIOD OF THE LIFE OF CHRIST EXTENDS FROM HIS NATIVITY TO HIS RESURRECTION A. D. 34.

Sec. 1. The birth of Jesus Christ may be dated, according to the best authorities, in the 26th year of the reign of Augustus Cesar Emperor of Rome, four years before the date commonly assigned for the Christian era.

The birth place of Christ was Bethlehem, a small town in the land of Judea, about six miles from Jerusalem. His mother was a " virgin espoused to a man, whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary." His early infancy was spent in Egypt, whither his parents fled to avoid the persecuting spirit of Herod, at that time king of Judea. After his return from Egypt, he dwelt at Nazareth, until his entrance upon his public

What is the extent of the period of the life of Christ? Sec. 1. When did the birth of Christ take place? Where was Christ born? Who was his mother? Who his reputed father? In what country was his infancy spent? Why did his parents flee to that country? Where did he dwell after his return?

ministry. From this place, at the age of twelve, he paid his memorable visit to Jerusalem; returning from which, he lived with his parents, and followed the humble occupation of his father.

Sec. 2. The great object of Christ in coming into the world, was to place the Church upon a new establishment, upon which it should finally embrace all nations, and increase in glory to the end of time.}

There never has existed but one Church in the world; but its circumstances have varied at different periods. Before Moses, we know little of its condition. It was then probably in an unimbodied form. From Moses to Christ, it existed in an organized state, and became subject to a great variety of ordinances.

The Mosaic dispensation Christ designed to abolish, and to introduce a still better one. The Church was now to embrace all nations; before, it had embraced only the Jews. Its worship was to be far more simple; its rites to be less burdensome; its privileges to be greatly enlarged, and its doctrines more clearly exhibited. In short, Christ designed to establish a spiritual kingdom-a Christian Church, which should ultimately fill the earth, and continas long as time should last.

Sec. 3. The speedy appearance of Christ on this intended work, was announced to the Jewish nation by John the Baptist, about two years, before that event actually took place.

How long? Where did he go, when he was twelve years of age? After his return, with whom did he live, and what occupation did he follow?

Sec. 2. What was the object of Christ, in coming into the world?

How many Churches have existed in the world? Before Moses what was its condition? What was its form? What can you say of it from Moses to Christ? What did Christ do with the Mosaic dispensation? What did he introduce instead of that dispensation? What was the Church now to embrace? What had it embraced before? What alteration was to take place as to its worship? as to its rites? as to its privileges? as to its doctrines? What was the Church now to be called? What should be its final extent? How long to continue?

Sec. 3. Who announced the coming of Christ? How long before his appearance?

John was a forerunner of Christ, agreeably to an an cient custom of the eastern monarchs, who, when entering upon an expedition, sent messengers to announce their approach, and prepare for their reception. That Christ should be preceded by such a messenger had long before been predicted by a prophet of God; who had spoken of John, as "the voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord.” The testimony which John bore to the character of his divine master was the most honourable that can be conceived.

Sec. 4. At the age of thirty) Christ made his first appearance to John on the banks of the river Jordan, where he was now baptized, by which he was solemnly inaugurated in office."]

Jesus had indeed no need to be baptized as a sinner, for he was holy; nor to receive an emblem of regeneration, for he needed no change of heart; nor to be admitted into the Christian Church, for he was appointed its head. But the object of his being baptized was to be legally and solemnly consecrated as High Priest. Under the law, the priests were consecrated to their office by baptism, and anointing with oil. Instead of the oil, he was baptized by the Holy Ghost. For "the heavens were opened and the spirit of God descended like a dove, and lighted upon him."

Sec. 5. Being thus inducted into office, he now chose twelve men as his disciples whom he named apostles. These he selected as the witnesses of all that he should do, and teach

According to what custom, was John a forerunner of Christ? By whom was he prophesied of? In what language? What testimony did John bear of Christ?

Sec. 4. What was the age of Christ, when he made his appearance to John; Where? What rite did he receive? Why?

Why did not Jesus need to be baptized as a sinner? Why did he not need to receive an emblem of regeneration? Why not to be received into the Church? What was the object then of his bap tism? How were the priests under the law consecrated to their office? Instead of the oil, with what was Christ baptized? What text proves this?

Sec. 5. On his induction into office, what did Christ do? What did he call his twelve disciples? What object had he in selecting apostles?

and to become, after his death, the heralds of his doctrines, and the organizers of the Christian Church.

The Christian Church, as already observed, can scarcely be said to have been organized during the life of Christ. He designed only to prepare the way. He abolished the Jewish Church, and introduced to the notice of his disciples such things, as were to be adopted in the Christian Church. He introduced a new ministry; the Lord's Supper in the room of the Jewish feasts; baptism in the room of circumcision; and spiritual worship in every place, and at any time, in the room of the carnal ordinances and burdensome rites, which were observed only at Jerusalem.

Sec. 6. The public ministry of Christ continued for the space of three years, or three years and a half during which, he was chiefly employed in instructing his disciples in reference to the nature of his kingdom; in preaching to them and others his doctrines; and in relieving the wants, and healing the infirmities of men.

The doctrines which Christ taught related to the nature and perfections of God; to the sinfulness and miserable condition of man; to his own character as the Son of God and the promised Messiah; to the atonement which he should accomplish by his death; to justification by faith; to repentance, and faith, and love, and obedience; to a resurrection from the dead; and to a state of future rewards and punishments.

These were the great doctrines of the Christian system— doctrines which he commissioned his disciples to preach through the world; and which the Christian Church was required to maintain to the end of time.

The miracles which Christ wrought were chiefly of a benevolent kind; but they had a still higher object than

Was the Christian Church organized during the life of Christ? What Church did he abolish? What did he introduce?

Sec. 6. How long did the ministry of Christ con tinue? How did he employ himself during this time?

What doctrines did he teach? Whom did he commission to preach these doctrines? What was the character of the miracles which Christ wrought? What higher object had they in view?