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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mAthode. srrata to pelure. m A n 32X 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 s NEW COMPENDIUM OF SACRED HISTORY niEPAllED FOR THE USE OF SCHOOLS BY 1113 Brclhors of the Christian Schools. liUiory 19 tlie Gr^t master \V«t sno thnt shouUl b© BiTCn to MONTUEAL J ZQ CpTTE STREET. ..1.11 'irtii^iT--^ ■^-'— We hereby approve of tiie pubUcation of thia " Gom* pendlum of Soored History. " t^t C. F. Archuishop of Quebec. Quebec, February 8th, 1869. Entered accordi').? tc Act of tho Parliament of Canada in the year ono thousnnl ei<;ht hundred and sixty-nine, by B. !•:. (.1. io the Oilujo of tho Minister of Agriculture. ^^i<^ PREFACE. A little compendium of Sacred History is, unquestionably, one of the first books that should be placed in the hands of children. Therein they will learn not only an interest- ing series of events, but, what is incompar- ably of more moment, they will learn to love and reverence their Creator whose all-wise providence and omnipotent power, so strik- ingly manifest in every episode of biblical history, can not fail to elicit the adiiii ration of their mind and the hc^^age of their heart. If to this we add that the impressions of early age linger in the memory, when the reminiscences of many subse(}uent periods have been long forgotten and thai tlioy descend the stream of life a ythe [)re- pious heirloom of primal years^ tlui ^leat PREFACii. huportanoo of a study so prcduotive of lifelong results, will be at onvce apparent. The little Compendium now offered to youth, has been diligently compiled from authentio sources, and is intended for the use of element- ary classes. Care has been taken to render the answers clear, simple, and concise, as also to in- tersperse the narrative with reflections naturally suggested by the incidents therein related. In order to render this little text-book as complete as possible, an epiloinizcd account of the evangelical labors of the Apostles, has been added to the history of the New Testament. The Chronological Table with which it closes, may be of some service to the young learner, who will there find, arranged in the order of their occurrence, a brief summary of the principal events recorded in the Bible, (^uebeo, Januai^« 199?, COMPENDIUM SACRED HISTORY INTRODUCTION. Question. What is History ? Answer. History is a written account of past events. Q. How is History divided ? A. With respect to time, History is divided into Ancient and Modern ; and with respect to the nature of its subjects, it is distinguished as Sacred, ProAine, Ecclesiastical, and Civil. Q. AVhat docs Ancient History comprise ? A. Ancient History comprises the events that occnrrcd from the Creation to the early days of (^linstinnity. ^ Q. What docs Modern History comprise? A. Modern History comprises all the events 6 8ACRCD BISTORT. that havo occurred since the early dajs u' Christianity to the present time. Q. Of what docs Civil History treat ? A, Civil History treats of the laws, customs, and government of nations together with the wars they have carried on, the revolutions they have undergone, and the other remarkable events that characterize the period of their existence. Q. What is Ecclesiastical History ? A. Ecclesiastical History is the history of the Christian Church. Q. What is Profane History ? A. Profane History is the history of the ancient heathen nations. Q. What is Sacred History ? A. Sacred History is the narrative of events contained in the Bible. Sacrod History is the moet ancient, the most certain, and the most useful of all. It is the most ancient, because it was written at a much earlier period than any other ; it is the most certain, because it was written by men in- spired of God ; it is the most useful, because it teacbei^ the existence of God, proclaims His infinite fierfections, and reveals the mtv^ necessary to attain eternal lift. I It riRdi fciui u. t Q. How ifl (ho Biblo divided ? A. The Biblo is divided into tho Old and the New Testament. In biblical langunge, the term Testament is employed to ezprosB the Covenant of (Jod with men. The old Covenant made with Abraham and renewed on Sinai through the ministry of MoBOdf respected especially the inheritance of the promised laud as well as the temporal blessings con- nected therewith, and was but a type or representation of the great truths and b'essings which the new Covenaiit, that iSf the Christian dispensation, unfolds and conTeya. The Bible contains seventy -two books, forty -five of which belong to the Old Testament ; and the remaining twenty-seven, to the New. Q. Who wore tho principal writers of tho Old Testament ? A. Moses, David^ and the prophets. Q. Into how many epochs may the history of the Old Testament be divided ? A. Into eight principal epochs. FIRST EPOCH, From tho Creation, B. C. 4004, to the Deluge, B. C. 2348. Q. How did God create the world? ■K I • AACRID BISTOftT. A. Ood crcntcd the world out of nothing by an act of His all-powerful will. Q. In how many days was the world created ? A. The world was created in six days. God, who exists from nil etornitj, wishing to makt nimself known in course of time, commenced this mnn* ifestation by creating, that is, forming from nothing tht heaTens, the earth, and all that they contain. The iiz ilays employed in creating the uniyerse, are generally coi.sidcroil to be indefinite periods of time. Q. What did God create the first day ? A. The first day, God created light. lie enid : " Let there be light, " and immediately Jight was made. Q. What did God make on the second day ? A. On the second day, God made the fir- mament. The firmament Is ♦he incomj)«nFiiraMc space thaterery where surroi.r.ld displays His bountiful omnipotence in mak- ing man the masterpiece of creation, the king and pontiff of the universe, He exhibits the infinite resources of His boundless power in the number and variety of the animal creation, from the lion that makes the forest ring with his mighty roar to the faithful dog that solicits for his afflicted master the oompassion of the rich. Q. What did God on the seventh day ? B ^.- 1. I. -I ijm f iM H lAOBED HTStOftt. A. On the seventh day, God rested, thai ir, ceased the work of creation. Q. When were the angels created ? A. The Scriptures do not explicitly say when ; but it is generally believed that they were created at the beginning of time. ' The number of the angela is beyond computation. They were created in a state of grace and sanctity ; but many, ut the instigation of Lucifer, rebelled against their Creator and were oast into hell. Q. How did God create man ? A. He formed his body out of the slime of the earth, and infused therein a soul created to His own image and likeness. Q. How was Eve created ? A. Her body vas formed out of one of Adam*s ribs ; and her soul, like that of Adam, was created to the imago and likeness of God. Qod, wishing to give a companion to Adam, cast bira into a profound sleep during which lie took out one of his ribs and with it formed the body of the first womnn, who is called Eve, that is, mother of the living. This mysterious sleep prefigured the death of Jesus Christen the cross, for then it was that the Church was formed by our divine ^^avlor to be the mother of those who wish to MTve God " in spirit and in trutlu" nsST B^OOB. II Q. In what is man like nnto God ? A. Man is like unto God in his soul, which is an immortal spirit capable of knowing and loving Him. Q. In what state were Adam and Eve cre- ated ? A. They were created in a state of innocence and happiness. % Q. Where did €k)d place oar first parents ? A. God placed our first parents in a delight- ful garden, called the Terrestrial Paradise. Q. Did they long remain there ? A. No ; for they soon forfeited their right to dwell therein. Q. How did they forfeit their right to Par- adise ? A. They forfeited their right to Paradise by eating the forbidden fruit. Q. Who forbade them to eat of this fruit ? A. God Himself made this prohibition, in order to test their obedience. Q. How did they come to disobey? A. The devil, who had been oMt out of ! I 1 I I ! i 12 SACRED BISTORT. Heaven in punishment of his rebclliotis pride, jealous of their happiness, resolved, if possible, to destroy both them and their posterity. Q. How did he effect his wicked purpose ? A. Disguised in the form of a serpent, ho addressed himself to Eve, and, by the most alluring promises, incited her to eat of the fruit. Q. Did Eve yield to the serpent*s crafty Busrsestion? •OJ?" A. Yes ; seduced by the flattering promises of the tempter, she eat of the fatal fruit and persuaded Adam to eat of it also. We might, perhaps, wonder that Ere \b neither afraid nor surprised to hear the serpent speak; but we should remember first, that before the fall, the animals were not noxious to mnn; and ■••®Dlcnitude of tin)e, should be born of the immaculate Virgin Mary. What goodness and mercy 1 irow until I Q* Why did Qod pot sepd the Hedcemer fcaMpaamwiawi u BACKED HISTOftV. 1 I ! » fi immediately after the transgression of our first parents ? A. That ('.uring a lonj* trial men might feel their utter weakness, and their great need of a Redeemer. Q. Who were the first children of Adam ? A. The first children of Adam were Cain and Abel. Q. What does the Scripture say of Cain ? A. The Scripture says that Cain was the first son of Adam, that he offered to God the first-fruits of the earth, that his sacrifice was not acceptable to God, and that, through jealousy, he killed his brother Abel, B. C. 3875. Q. What punishment did God inflict on Cain? A. Cain was cursed by God and made a fugitive over the face of the earth. Q. What does the Scripture say of Abel ? A. The Scripture says that Abel was Adam's second son, that he offered to God the first-born of his flocks, that his sacrifice was agreeable to ^e Lord, that he was put to ^Qnth by hi^ riBST ■FOOH. 16 brother, and that his blood cried to Heaven for vengeance. ^ Cain prefigured the wicked, who by perseoating the good and faithful, draw down upon themsolves the wrath of God. Abel was a liTely figure of Jesus Christ wHo was ignominiously put to death by the Jews, and of all who suffer persecution for the confession of their faith. The bluod of Jesus Christ, howerer, instead of orying to Heaven, like that of Abel for yengeanoe» incessantly oalls aloud for pardon and mercy. Q. What is said of Adam and Eve after their expulsion from Paradise ? A. They sincerely repented of their sin, and appeased the justice of God by a rigorous and lifelong penance. Q. When did Adam die ? A. Adam died three thousand and seventy- four years before the coming of Christ, at the a:li ii 26 BAORBD HISTOST. No sooner were tbey out of danger than a shower of fire and brimstone consumed Sodom and three othor guilty cities with their sinful inhabitants. Lot's «irifo having, contrary to the injunction of the angels, looked back to see the conflagration, was changed into a pillar of salt This monumental pillar was stiU extant in the days of Josephus, the Jewish historian, who flourished in the first eenturj of the Christian era. Q, In what year was Sodom destroyed ? A. Sodom was destroyed one thousand eight hundred and ninety-seven years before Christ. Q. What promises did God make Abraham ? A. God promised Abraham that his posterity should be as numerous as the stars of heaven, and that the Messiah should be born of his race. Q. How did God try Abraham's f lith ? A. God tried Abraham's faith by command- ing him to offer Isaac, the son of his affection and the heir of the divine promises, in sacrifice to Him. Q. How did Abraham act on this trying occasion ? A. Ho placed his trust in the promises of God, and obeyed without hesitation. THIRD XPOCB. 27 Assisted by two of his servants, he made all the nec- essary preparations, and set out on his melancholy journey. On the third day he descried Mount Moria, the appointed place ; and, informing his attendants that he and his son would go some distance farther, to worship their God, he proceeded to the spot. To the touching question of his son respecting the victim to be offered, the holy patriarch replied by expressing his faith that Ood Himself would provide the saoriGco ; and, probably availed himself of this opportunity, to acquaint him with the divine com- mand. Isaac expressed his resignation to the will of GK>d, and, with all the meekness of a lamb, allowed himself to be bound and laid out as a victim on the alUa. Q. What happened as Abraham uplifted his ann to immolate his son ? A. An angel called him by name, and told him that God was satisfied with the readiness of his obedience. On turning round, Abraham saw, entangled in the bushes, a ram, which he took and offered as a holocaust instead of his son. In this instance, Isaac waa an admirable figure of Jesui Christ, who, loaded with His cross, ascended the steep of Calvary, to be immolated for the salvation of the wor The chain of Moria is composed of three hills. On one, David built the fortress of Sion ; on a second, Solomon erected the Temple ; and on the third, Jesus Christ con- summated the work of our redentpti')n. A Jewish tradition states that Adam, Abel, and Moe, sacrificed on this mountain. 28 SACKED QISTOlir. I !iiii Q. How was A.brahaui lewarded for hii obedience ? A. By a renewal of the promise, already made, that the Savior of the world should be born of his race. Q. What was the mark of this covenant ? A. The mark of this covenant was circumci- sion, a rite ever afterwards observed by the Jews. Q. In what year did Abraham die ? A. Abraham died one thousand eight hun- dred and twenty-one years before Christ, in the hundred and seventy-fifth year of his age. He was buried by his two sons iu the family sep- ulchre, which ho had purchased of the inhab- itants of Heth. Q. Who was the wife of Isaac ? A. licbecca, the grand-daughter of Nachor, Abraham's brother. Q. What children were born of this marriage ? A. Two sons, Esau and Jacob. Q. Did the two brothers always live together in friendship ? A. No ; Esau conceived a deadly hatred for bis brother Jacob, who, by stratagem, robbed i! 1 i! THIRD EPOCH. him of his fatlicr*s blessinj* after depriving him of his birthri-ht, B. C. 1759. Q. How did Jacob deprive Esau of his birth- right? A. Esau, who was impelled by his restless disposition to become a hunter, returning one day from the chase exhausted by want of food, bosonght his brother Jacob to allow him to share the mess of pottage which he was then prepar* ins" ; Jacob consented on condition that Esau would surrender his birthright, which at last he agreed to do. ♦ Q. How did Jacob procure his father's bless- ing? A. Isaac, believing himself to be on the point of death, called his son Esau and sent him out in quest of some game, promising to give him his blessing on his return. Meanwhile, Rebec- ca prepared some venison according to Isaac's liking, and told »)pcob to bring it to his father* Isaac being blind was easily made believe that Esau knelt before him, and was thus induced t4 give his blessing to Jacob. Q. What did Esau on his return? , 80 SAC USD HISTORY. n ' \ I ''i I A. Esaf^ learning what had taken plaoe during his absence, conjured his father with tears and supplications to retract what he had done ; but the holy patriarch, knowing that Rebecca had acted by inspiration, constantly refused. Q. What did Esau seeing himself deprived for ever of his birthright ? A. Seeing himself thus fraudulently deprived of his birthright, Esau conceived so violent a hatred against his brother, that he resolved to kill him. ' Q. How was Jacob saved from his brother's anger ? A. By the prudent care of hi» mother Re- becca, who, believing that time would cool Esau's resentment, sent him to dwell with her brother Laban, in Mesopotamia. > V'hile joaraeying thither, he, one evening, eomposed hinikself to sleep in Uio open oountry. During liiB .wpoae, fee was favored with a vision which oonvinoed him that tbo helpless and persecuted are under the immediate pro- "'Qtion of Heaven. In his slumber, he saw a ladder ^^ Ymg from earth to heaven, and on which angels were r>rv5>atly aaoending and descending; the Lord Himself ^;«vri^ I thereoDf and laid to him : «< I am the Lord Qod of si TUI UD EPOCH. 31 Abraham thy Tather, and the Ghxi of leaao ; thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth and in theo all the tribes f the earth shall be blessed." When Jacob awoke, h< called the plaee Bethel that is, house of God. Q. How was Jacob employed while in Meso potamia ? A. During tLc twenty-one years that Jncol dwelt in Mesopotamia, he was eniployed in tending the flocks of his uncle Laban, who gave him in marriage, first his daughter Lia, and afterwards his younger daughter Rachel. Q. Whither did Jacob go after his long Bojourn in Mesopotamia ? A. He returned to his father's house in the land of Canaan. Jacob quitting Mesopotamia, an idolatrous countr]( teaches us to shun the companionship of those who migh\ induce as to evil, in order to attach ounselTes to thost whose example may lead us to God and to the praoti virtue. Q. What did Jacob on coming near the ter ritory inhabited by Esau ? > A. He sent messengers to discover the dispo- sition of his brother towards him. Q. What answe** did they make ? \ '■. Hi B3 8A0RBD RTST0R7. m I I A. They told him that Esau was marching thither at the head of four hundred men ; at which, Jacob, who was unable to encounter such a force, was greatly alarmed. Q. What occurred to Jacob the night previous to his interview with Esau ? A. He had a vision in wliich he seemed to wrestle with an angel, who, being nnablo to overcome him, touched the sinew of his tigh which immediately contracted. Jacob thus recognized the supernatural quality of his adversary and entreated him not to depart without blessing him Q. What did the angel ask Jacob ? A. The angel then asked him his name ; nnd on being told, changed it from Jacob which means supplanter to Israel which signifies strong against God. This mysterious wrestling with an aogol in human form was directed to dispel Jacob's fears and to inspire him with confidence, inasmuch as he might hope to orercome his fellow-men since he was enabled to struggle with a heavenly spirit. Q. What did Jacob wben he saw his brother approaching ? n THIRD KPOCH. 33 A. Wishing to propitiate him, he prostrated himself seven times to the ground. Jacob in this iDstanoe, is a perfect model of the charitj, deference, and oondesoenaion, that we should pay erea to those who persecute us. Q. What did Esau on seeing his brother Jacob ? A. He ran into his arms, and embraced him tenderly. Q. Where did Jacob dwell after his return from Mesopotamia ? A. He dwelt near Salem, a city of the Si- chemites. Q. When did Isaac die ? A. Isaac died at the age of one hundred and eighty years, B. C. 1716, and was buried by his two sons Jacob and Esau. Q. How many sons had Jacob ? A. Jacob had twelve sons, who are known as the twelve patriarchs from whom descended the tribes of Israel. Q. Who were the most remarkable of thdse twelve patriarchs ? A» JH4i| wboif tribo gftvo kings to Um poi> ^ m 84 SACRED HISTORY. M I r nUl terity of Jacob, and to the whole world the long-expected Savior ; Levi, whose descendants were set apart for the service of the altar ; and Joseph, whose whole life was a tissue of extra- ordinary events. Q. For which of his twelve sons did Jacob entertain a special predilection ? A. For Joseph, the son of Rachel, bis be- loved wife. Q. What were the principal traits of Joseph's character ? A. Simplicity, piety, and wisdom. Q. Why was Joseph hated by his brothers ? A. Because he was their father's favorite ; and also because of certain dreams, which seemed to foretell his future superiority. With candor and ingenuousness, he told his biotheiw that he had had a dream in which he seemed to be with them in the field binding up com, and that his sheaf remained upright whilst the others standing round in order, paid homage to it. On an other occasion, he told them that he saw the sun, moon, and eleven stars paying him a similar tribute of respect and homage. The relation of these two dreams together with the disclosure he made to Jacob of a crime which his brothers had committed, kindled in their breasts a violent hatred for th9 opea« beartod youth* THIRD EPOCH. 36 Q. What happened to Joseph whea sixteen years old ? A. When Joseph was sixteen years old, his father sent him to the plains of Sichem where his brothers were tendin<:j their flocks. On seeing the " dreamer," as they contemptuously called Joseph, coming towards them, they resolved to kill him. Q. Did they accomplish their wicked design? A. No, for Ruben, the eldest of the family, having interposed in favor of his persecuted brother, obtained that he might be cast into a neighboring pit, hoping, at a favorable mo- ment, to rescue him altogether from their hands. Q. What followed ? A. Shortly after, some Egyptian merchants happening to pass that way, Joseph was sold to them for twenty pieces of silver. Q How did Josepli's brothers represent the matter to their father ? A They dipped Joseph's coat in the blood of a kid Tnd sent it to their father, in order to nnk'- him '^''^ie^'e that ^ wii4 b^wt bad devour* dd hii fayorito soo» 36 SACKED HISTORY. tfl I J A^ Q. How did Jacob receive this sad news ? A. He rent his garments, clothed himself with snckcloth, and refused all alleviation to his anguish. Q. Plow did the Egyptian merchants dis'pose of J oscph ? A. They sold him to Putiphar, the prime officer of king Pharao's guards. Q. To what dignity was Joseph raised by his new master ? A. Putiphar, discovering Joseph's amiable disposition and precocious wisdom, conceived a great affection for him, and made him super- intendent of all his household. Q. What befell Joseph in Putiphar*s house? A. He was falsely accused of a heinous crime and cast into prison. Q. What occurred to Joseph during his con- finement ? A. Two of Pharao's officers, his cup-bearef and chief baker, having fallen into disgrace, were cast into the prison in which Joseph wae 90P9no4» Qn tt^e mme oigbt they «iob M t^ THIRD EPOCH. 37 droam, which socmcd U) i»dlc?«U' their cominp; fate. Joseph, whom they asked to explain them, <^i\ve two very different interpretations, declaring to the baker tliat before the expiration of three days he would be han;z;ed on a pjibbet ; and to the cupbearer that, within the same period of time, he should be re-established in his former functions. Q. Did the cup-bearer when restored, re- member Joseph ? A. No, for in the hurry of prosperity, he forgot the promise he had made to Joseph, v^'lio, in consequence, remained two years longer in confinement. Q. TTow was the cup bearer put in mind of Joseph ? A. B" two remarkable dreams which king Pharao had. IIo scemcil to be standin.^ on the banks of the Nile whence came forth seven fat o<)^v^ which were immediately devoured by seven •; T ■ ■ i ''1 ii .'i 1i'- Of 1 ;H 42 SACRED QlSTORr. lliemselves atiii8fee&,and implored him, thronjrh pity for their aged father, to detain them but to let Beniamin return. Q. What effect had their words on Joseyih ? A. Melted into tenderness by the earn' st pleadings of his brothers, Joseph could restrain his sentiments no longer ; he raised his voice, and said : ** I am Joseph, your brother; is my father stiU living ? " Q. What did Joseph say when he had recov ered from his first em5tion ? A. He told his brothers to return with sjjcod and bring Jacob, their father, together with their wives and children into Egypt, where he would abundantly provide for their support. The admirable charity of this holy patriarch is a figure of the anparaileled goodness of Jesus Christ, who not only pardoned His bretbraOf the Jews, for the barbarous treat- ment they inflicted upjn Him, but also made the blood He shed on the cross the price of their salvation and ibo ransom of their souls. Q. How did Jacob receive the glad intel- figence that his son Joseph was still living ? A. At first, he refused to believe it ; but, seeing the rich presents sent him from Egypt, THIRD EFOCH. 43 he was fully convinced and eagerly set out on his journey. Q. What was the number of Jacob's family when they went into E^rypt ? A. They numbered in all seventy persons. When Joseph was apprised of Jacob's approach, he set out with a becoming retinue to meet him. The moment he descried the carriage of his aged father, he descomletl from his chariot, and advanced on foot towards him ; as soon as they met, they rushed into each other's arms and clung together for a time without being able to utter a single word. After this interview, Joseph conducted his father and his brothers into the royal city, where Pharao gave them a gracious reception, and allotted them the fertile district of Qessen for the place of their residence, B. C. 1706. Q. How old was Jacob when he died ? A. Jacob died seventeen years after his entry into Egypt, in the one hundred and forty- seventh year of his age, B. C. 1689. ' Q. What did J acob shortly before his death ? A. He called his sons around him, recom- mended them to serve God with fidelity, and gave each of them his last blessing. Q. What remarkable words did Jacob say in blessinor Juda ? w u SiCRBD HISTORY. ii' A. He said that the Messiah, the Expecta- tion of nations, should he horn of his race. Q. What became of Jacob's reaiains ? A. Through the tender cares of his affectionate son Joseph, his precious remains were embalmed and laid with those of his fathers in the land of Canaap Q. How * \r 3 Joseph when he died ? A. One hundred and ten years, daring eighty of which he /lail -rov ed Egypt, B. C. 1635, Q. How were the children of Israel treated by the Egyptians after Joseph's death V A. After the death of Joseph, the Egyptian kings cruelly oppressed the Israelites, and even undertook to exterminate their race by dooming to death all their male children. This barbarous oonduot of the Egyptian Pharaos, ought to make us understand how ungrateful and unprofitable * task it is to work solely for men. Q. By whom were the Israelites delivered from this bondage ? A. By Moses, one of the descendants of Levi. Q. How was Moses preserved from the de- itruction to "^hich all the Hebrew male children were doomed ? THIRD KPOOH. 45 A. Daring three months, his mother suoi ceeded in hiding the dear little infant ; hut as sho could no longer safely conceal him, 8h« cotitrived a hasket of hulrushes, carefully ce- mented it so as to keep out the water, and, in this cradle, exposed her little child on the banks of the Nile. Providence permitted the basket to be discovered by the king's daughter ; and, through her tender compassion, the future law- giver was saved, B. C. 1571. Mary, the sister of the infant, who cautiously observed all that had taken place, gradually i^proaohed the princess, and ventured to ask if she desired a nurse; on being told to procure one, she eagerly ran to call her mother. Q. What became of Moses after his adoption by Pharao's daughter ? A. He was brought up at the king's court, and instructed in all the learning of the Egyptians. Moses was the only infant Pharao should have feared, and yet he is the only child that escapes the barbarous orders issued for his destruction ; instead of cutting hiia off in the bud of life, like the other Hebrew children, the Egyptian monarch had him brought up in a princely manner in his own palace and under his own eyes,— little expecting that in the person of his grandsoo he was fos- tering tb« futuro deliverer of tht IsrMlitM. In Uko ma&fi«r, orutl Harod lought to put tht Infant fpp ■■■■■lllllli . i.' ft; f '!, ! !■!' 'i ItlS 46 SACRED HISTORl . ner in which that snngninary order wns carried into execution, the divine Infant nlono escaped the dreadful massacre of tbe babos of i^ethlebem. Q. What did Mosos at the age of forty ? A. He quitted the royal palace and rejoined his oppressed brethern. Shortly after, having killed an Egyptian whom he saw ill-treating a Hebrew, he fled for safety to the land of Ma- dian, B. C. 1531. Q. With whom did he dwell in Madian ? A. With Jethro, prince of the country, who gave him in marriage oae of his daughters, named Sephora, in order to reward the zeal A. He stretched forth his hand again, and the waters, rushing to their natural state, en- gulfed Pharao with all his mighty host, B. C. 1491. Q. What was the first act of the Israelites on seeing themselves thus delivered ? A. On seeing themselves thus miraculously delivered, they burst forth into a canticle of praise and thanksgiving. Q. What was the number of the Israelites when they went forth out of Egypt ? A. They numbered six hundred thousand, besides women and children. The whole number of the Hebrews is variously es- timatea from 1,500,000 to 3,000,000. Q. What did the Israelites bear with them ? A. The bones of the patriarch Joseph, which ^ in compliance with his dying injunction, they brought into Canaan, in order to bury them with those of his father Jacob and his mother Rachel. ^ How long had the Hebrews sojourned in Egypt 7 50 Bacrki) niRT« RY, ^l»:'- I'ltJ; i: 1: li .' A. About two Imri'li'ccl yc;ir>, rock'ninr.'. IVmii the time when Jacob went thithor wi-ii nil lii> faiuilv. Q. Was tlic knowlcdire of tlie true (jnl i'\- clusively confined to the children of Israel / A. No; for there were several worshijicrs of the true God anionLi' the Gentiles, that is, aiiKMrj the nations unconnected witli the fainilics of the patriarchs. The Scripture makes particular mention of Job and his friends. Q. Who was Job I A. Job was an Idumean pr^-^f^e of eminrnt y and piety, who lived a^^'^^At fifteen ctn before Christ. V The devil, jealous to see a mortal man practise such virtues and enjoy such happiness, obtained peruiist;ion of God to put his virtue to the test. With liendish mtiliee, ho poured out aiHictions on the holy patriarch like a torrent. Four difl'arent messengers came one alter iho other to info»"m him of his accumulated aust'orLune : ihat his herds were driven away hy the enemy ; his (locks, killed by lightn'iig; bis servants, slain j and bis children, crushed to death. When Job heard these melancholy tidings, he fell prostrate (m the ground, and, with bumble resignation, said unto God : *• The Lord hath given and the Lord hath taken away, let His name be for ever blessed." Satan then smote bis bodj with a hideous lep- ! ! FOURTH EPOCH. 61 I'l-n'.li 11 h i^ • 1 y' !\- l? ■r. of uuo \\1 ie?: of ticuiar miinrnt ;u cun ISO 8vich malict, h liUo a arter iho no : lliii^ 13 lU)cks, chilui-en, jlaucjholy h bum bio |vveu an^i for ever etiu8 lep- rony, so that tl>o holy man loft hift hoono and (loatod htm- gcW upon a dunghiti. J those great trials, which Job boro with oxoroplaiy paticuoo, (iod blcsi^cd him with a numerous family^ doubled hi:! former wealth, arid granted him a happj old ago. FOUllTIT EPOC FT, From the Exodus, B. C. 1491, to the establishinont of tho monarchy, B. C. 1095. < Yhat was tho conduct of the Israclitea after their departure from Kgyj)t ? A. They no sooner begun to feel tlie incon- veniences arising Irom want of provision?? than they murmured against God, tlireatened Mo>:e3 with death, and chimorod for their return into Eirypt. In this the children of Israel represent the sinner, who, after participating in the Sacraments and sharing the choicest gifts of Heaven, becomes discouraged at the veriost trial and relapses into his evil ways. Q. Did God abandon His people in their distress ? A. No ; He sent into the camp a prodigioia IS 8A0RID BISTORT. I . I ' ' t; Ml HI8T0BT. return. The angel permitted him to continue his jonmej, with the strict injunction to speak only what Uie Lord should tell him. Being brought by Balak to an eminence that com- manded a view of the camp of Israel, Balaam far from uttering maledictions against the Israelites, blessed them and made magnificent prophecies concerning their future, in the course of which he foretold that a miraculous star should announce the coming of the Messiah. Balaam, however, unwilling to loose the proffered gold, gave Balak the most perfidious counsels against the people of God ; but in the battle that ensued, this wicked prince was defeated, and Balaam himself was found among the slain, B. G. 1451. Q, Did Moses enter the promised land ? A. No, he was not permitted to enter the promised land in punishment of the doubt which he manifested when he twice struck the rock, ia order to obtain water. Q. When and where did Moses die ? A. He died on Mount Nebo in the hundred and twentieth year of his age, B. C. 1451. A multitude of wicked, ungrateful, nnd rebellious men, enter the land of pruuiiiie vihWc Moses, so humble, so faithful, and so holy, is excludni for a fault apparently trivial I Thus was accomplished by anticipation the wordb of our Lord : ** Unto whomsoever much is given, of him much shall be required." It FOURTH IPOOB. 61 sjonrnej, the Lord hat oom- far from ised them lit future, alous star Bred gold, ainst the lis wicked as found ater the bt which the rock, ? hundred 451. lious men, lumbie, 80 Apparently 1 the wordb en, of him Q. Whom did God appoint to succeed Moses ? A. Josue, a faithful Levite and one of the twelve who, forty years before, had been sent to reconnoitre the promised land. Q. How did the Israelites cross the Jordan ? A. In the same miraculous manner they had previously crossed the Red Sea. The priests, who carried the ark, had no sooner reached the stream than it stopped its course; the waters below ran off as usual into the Dead Sea, while those above collected together like a high swelling mountain in one place. A dry passage was thus opened for the Israelites across the bed of the river, B.C. 1451. Q. What was the first place taken by the Israelites ? A. The city of Jericho. Q. What circumstances accompanied the taking of this city ? A. Josue instructed the Israelites to march in procession once a day for six days around the city ; and on the seventh to go seven times around when, at a given signal, they should raise general shout. All these prescriptions being J-™' ; 12 SACRED HISTORY. ;i' ". r ISU ! punctually fulfilled, as the trumpets sounded and the multitude shouted the walls of Jericho fel to the ground, apd thus opened to the Israelites an easy entrance into the city, B, C. 1451 . Q. What was the next phico the Israelites attacked ? A. The city of Hai. Q. Were they successful in their attack ? A. At first, they were repulsed ; but finally they took the city and exterminated its inhab- itants. Q. To what was the failure of the first at- tempt owing ? A. To the sin of Achan, who, in violation of God's express command, had secretly reserved for himself some of the spoils of Jericho. Q. How was Achan punished for his disobe- dience ? A. He was taken outside the camp, and stoned to death. Q. What nation shortly afterwards submitted to Josue ? A. The Gabaonites, one of the most valiant aations of Canaan. FOURTH KPOCH. 63 Q. How did the other nations view the sub- mission of the Gabaonites ? A. Alarmed at their desertion, they combined their forces together and resolved to exter- minate them. Q. What did Josue on this occasion ? A. Faithful to the alliance he had made with the Gabaonites, he marched to their assistance, met the five confederate kings of Canaan, and defeated them with great slaughter. Q« What great miracle occurred during the battle ? A. As the day was fast upon the decline, Josue prayed unto the Lord, and, full of con- fidence in His omnipotent power, commanded the sun to stand still in the heavens until ho had completed the overthrow of the enemy. Q. Did the sun obey Josue's command ? A. Yes, and the Scripture says that " there was not before nor after so long a day. ** Q. What is said of Josue's subsequent sue- cess ? A. Josue was so successful in his warfare against the Canaanites that in five years after w 1 ! ill . i 1 ' ; :'r m''^\ !«,: €4 BAORIO MIBTORr: .'it I] ■nil the crossing of the Jordan, he had conquered almost all the hostile nations of Oanaan. Q. What did Josue after having conquered the promised land ? A. He divided it among the nine remaining tribes and the half-tribe of Ephraim. Q. Where had the other tribes settled ? A. The tribes of Ruben and Gad and the half-tribe of Manasses had already settled be- yond the Jordan. Q. Where was the ark deposited ? A. In Silo, the first capital of the Israelites after they had settled in the promised land. Q. What did Josue a short time before his death ? A. He called the Israelites together, reminded them of the wonders God had wrought in their favor, and urgently recommended them to re- main faithful to the Lord. Q. How old was Josue when he died ? A. One hundred and ten years, during twent five of which he had governed the people o> God. B. C. 1426. of FOURTH EPOCH. 6ft Q. What took plaoo shortly after the death of Josue ? A. Caleh assembled all the combatatits of Juda and gave battle to Adonibesck, the cruel tyrant of Jerusalem, whom ho defeated and took pris- oner. This wioked prince, who, in the days of bis prosperity, bad taken prisoners seventy of the neighboring king^, and ordered the extremities of their hands and feet to be ont off, now received the same treatment from bis captors. Q. How did the Israelites act after the death of Josue ? A. They remained faithful to the Lord as long as the ancients, who had seen the wonders of God, lived; but after the death of those virtuous men, they fell into idolatry. Q. How did God punish them for this pre- varication ? A. He permitted the Canaanites to reduce them to a state of servitude, till ttie smart of p ;i 'on roused them to a sense of duty and :jed them to repentance. Q. W iiom did God raise up to deliver them f iiu tho oppreiiioo of their enewiei ? \i ^t r!)l)i9cl ^p HTiral •itriordtMrj p•^ W^'^ m.i: il''? «6 SACRKD BISTORT. Bonages, who, from the authority they exerci&e«l over the people, were called judges, Q. Who was the first judge of Israel ? A. Othniel, brother of Caleb, who delivered tiio Israelites from the Mesopotamian yoke and governed them during forty years, B. C. 1405, Q. Who was Debbora ? A. Debbora was a prophetess whom God raised up to deliver the Israelites from the tyr- anny of Jabin, king of Canaan, B. C. 1285. Q. How did she effect the deliverance of the people ? A. She levied an army of 10,000 men and invested Barak with the chief command. He immediately took the field against the enemy whose force was by far superior, and rendered the more formidable by 900 chariots of iron. Notwithstanding the great inequality of num- bers, Barak defeated the Canaanites. Siscra their general, being hotly pursued, alighted from his chariot and escaped on foot to the tent of a powerful man, named Heber, by whQSC rife he was slain, B. C. 1285f FOURTH EPOCH. «7 Q. How long did Debbora judge Israel ? A. Forty years. Q. Did the Israelites remain faithful to God after the death of Debbora ? A. No ; being no longer restrained by au- thority, they committed such disorders that God, in punishment, abandoned them for seven years to the power of the Madianites. Q. What deliverer did God send them at the expiration of that time ? A. Gideon, a valiant and prudent man of the tribe of Manasses. Q. What sign did Gideon ask as a proof that God would deliver Israel by his hands ? A. He asked that the fleece which he should extend on the ground, might be wet with dew whilst the adjoining soil remained dry. In the morning, he found that his prayer had been heard ; and, desiring an other sign from Heaven, he humbly begged of God that on the following morning the fleece might be dry and the ground wet, which request the Lord also granted. Q. What did Gideon^ ^nooura^ed b^ tbeif 68 SACRED HISTORY. '\0" W' it ill wm^l iM t A. He mastered an army of 32,000 men, and commenced his march towards the camp of the Madianites. Q. Did the Lord allow Gideon to attack the enemy with so powerful a force ? A.. No ; his army was too numerous to answer the designs of Providence ; and, accordingly, God commanded him to proclaim throughout the camp that those who were not disposed to undergo the ffitigues of war, might return to their homes. Q. How many availed themselves of this indulgence? ^A. Twenty- two thousand. *Q. What did God then order Gideon to do ? A. As the number that still remained was too great, God commanded him to take his men to a neighboring brook, where He would make known those that should be retained tor the enterprise. Q. What was the sign by which Gideon should know the chosen men ? Ai Aooordiog to the orddr of God, thoso eal;r wto Upp^d water (hfm tbeir bandi m \ KOPRTH EPOCH. 61* men in haste, should be retained, whilst those who lay down leisurely to drink, were to be dismissed. Q. Qow many were there that drank the water from their hands ? A. There were but 300 ; and it was with this little force that Gideon undertook to overthrow the formidable host of the Madianites. Q. How did Gideon arm his little band ? A. He gave each a trumpet and an earthen pitcher with a burning lamp concealed within. Towards midnight, he advanced to the camp of the enemy whom he routed without striking a blow. Lie charged his little troop to observe a profound silenoa till the signal for the attack should ba given; then they should sound their trumpets, break their pitchers, and [produce their lumps, shouting at the same time, "To the Lord and Gideon." The glittering of the lamps, the cUth of the pitchers, and the clangor of the trumpets, mixed with vS hi Kits of war from every quarter, struck the Madianites with so great a panic that they fled with precipitation, in the confusion of the flight, they turned their swords against one an other, and slew 120,000 of their fellow- warriors. The grateful Israelites offered the regal crown to their liberator ; but be magnanimously refuiied it, saying : " Tb« Lord ^hall be your rulrr." mvrr 70 SACRBD HIBTORT. Q, Who was Abimelech ? A. Abimeloch was one of the seventy sons of Gideon. Q. What atrocious act did he commit after the death of his father ? A. He slew all his brothers except the youngest, who saved himself by flight. Q. What did Abimelech after perpetrating this bloody deed ? A. He caused himself to be proclaimed king by the inhabitants of Sichem. Q. How did he die ? A. Having cruelly oppressed his newly ac- quired subjects, they revolted against him and deprived him both of his crown and life. As he was besieging one of the revolted cities, he was struck down by a stone that had been oast by a woman frooi the top of the battlements. Confounded and chagrin- ed at the thought of dying by the hand of a woman, he ordered his armor-bearer to pierce him with bis sword. A tragical death thus put an end to the wretched man, who had imbrued his hands in the blood of his brothers, B. C. 1233. '^'■ Q. Did the Israelites faithfully serve God after ^e death of Gideon ? A. No ; they sooo fell into idolatry. FOTRTH EPOCH. 71 Q. How did God punish their apostasy ? A. He delivered them over for ftightoen years to the power of the Ammonites. Q. By whom were they delivered from the tyranny of the Ammonites ? A. By Jephte, the eighth judge of I»fnel, B.C. 1187 Q. What vow did Jephte make to God ? A. When called by God to lead the army of Israel, he vowed that if he obtained the vic- tory, he would offer to the Lord whoever should first come forth from his house to meet him. Q. What was the result? A. He gained a complete victory over the enemy ; and, on approaching his house^ was met by his only daughter, who had cojj^^ forth to greet him. Q. How did Jephte act on this.c icasion ? A. He acquainted his daughter with the vow he had made, and told her the grief its i'ulfi'unent would bring to his heart; but phe, with admirable resignation, consented to her fate and even exhorted her father to aocomplish his ~ow. & r^ 72 SACRED BISTORT. lis ' m \ •si I i!! liyil il Many emineot theologians maintain, even on Scriptural grounds, tliat Jephte's row did not imply the obligation oi immolating his daughter, but merely of oonseoratmg hei to the Lord by a vow of perpetual virginity. Q. Did the victory of Jephte render the Is- raelites more faithful to God ? A. For some time they faithfully observed His divine law, but afterwards relapsed into idol- atry. To punish them for this new apostasy, God permitted the Philistines to make frequent incursions on their territories. Q. What extraordinary man did God raise up to deliver them from the Philistine yoke ? A. Samson, one of the most extraordinary personages of all history, B. C. 1155. Q. Did any thing remarkable attend the birth of Samson ? A. Yes ; an angel announced to his mothe** that the child with whom she was pregnant, should be consecrated to God from his birth, and that he should deliver the people from the inroads of the Philistines. Q. What were the most famous exploits of Samson ? \ A. On one occasion, he encountered a furious KOU KTH EPOCH. 73 lioQ that was madly rushing forward to devour him ; and» though wholly uaarmed, he tore him to pieces and threw his carcass on the wayside. Shortly after, having been ill treated by his father-in-law, a Philistine, he caught three hun- dred foxes; and, tying firebrands to their tails, let them loose among the corn-fieldi of his enemies. On a subsequent occasion, when sur- rounded by an army of Philistines, he seized the jaw-bone of an ass, slew one thousand of them, and put the rest to flight. So great was his oontompt for his restless enemies that he openly entered Qaza, one of their fortlGed cities. His prosenoe there being soon noised abroad, a considerable Quinber of Philistines gathered round, and attempted to detain him by closing the town-gates and making them ; but Samson, apprised of their machinations, rose at iniduight, and, breaking the bolts and hinges, departed carrying away the gates on his shoulders. Thus ao- ouired, he intrepidly proceeded through the midst of his astonished enemies to the top of a neighboring hill. After til id feat of prowess, the Philistines sought to entrap him by guile rather than by open force. The princes of the Philistines, aware ofhisfondnes fur a woman of their nation, made her most tempting oilers, to induce her to wring from him the secret of hi prodigious strength. She entreated and flattered, re pruaohed and caressed, till, at last, worn down by im portunity he disclosed to her the secret, faying that i rrwfjr^ 74 SACRED HISTOIIV. \ti . M HI m ;.!:;;«, lay in his hair, wliioh, if shorn, would leave him as pow. erless as his fellow-men. The treacherous woman then composed him to sleep, cut o£f his hair, and delivered him to his cruel enemies, who deprived him of sight and lent him to grind in a mill like a slave. Thr extraordinary strength of Samson, was given him In consequence of his consecration to God ; and as the hadge of his consecration, the preservation of bis hair unshorn, was now lost, he forfeited all the miraculous physical powers with which he had hitherto been endowed. Q. What occurred to Samson during his confinement ? A. His hair began to grow, and with it his strength gradually returned. Q. What occurred shortly afterwards ? A. The princes of the Philistines having assembled, in one of their temples, great numbers of the people to celebrate the feast of their idol- god, ordered Samson to be brought thither for their diversion. Q. What followed ? A. As he proceeded to the temple where the nultitude had gathered, he persuaded his ^uide to conduct him to a spot whence he could reach the two pillars upon which &e building rested. He then grasped the massy pillars and FOURTH EPOCH. 15 shook tliem till the edifice tottered and fell, burying the whole assembly numbering 3,000 persons beneath its ruins, B. C. 1117. Q. How old was Samson when he died? A. Thirty-eight years, during twenty of which he had judged Israel. In many oiroumstanoes of his life, Samson was a striking ugii ro of Jesus Christ :^ .Samson was endowed with extraordinary strength, Jesus Ciiri.st is the God whose power has no limits ; Sauison oipouses a Philisline woman, Jesus Christ calls uiuo lliiu all the nations of the earth ; Sauisun routs the Philistine army with the simplest weipons, Josus Christ destroys the empire of Saun by ♦Jie virtue of the cross j Samson bears aloft on his shoulders the gates of the city ill which ho had been shut up and passes through tlie midst of his astonished enemies, Jesus Christ comes forth from the tomb and triumphantly proceeds through the midst of bis panic stricken guards ; ^?a!Usou voluntarily/ forf its his life to save his catioOf Jesus Christ was led to death because He iot...cv4. u u.i^a because His great work was accomplished ; Samson destroyed more of his enemies in dying than during his lifetime, Jesus Christ by His death cousum- iuated the work of our redemption. Q. Who ruled Israel contcm| ormicously with Samson ? Iff % \i ^'q 76 8A0RID HISTORY. A. The high-priest Heli. Q. For what was Heli remarkable ? A. For his piety and virtue ; but his sons Ophni and Phinees, by the too great indulgence of their father, became very depraved and drew down upon themselves and the whole nation the wrath of Heaven. Q. What misfortunes befell Heli and the Jewish nation ? A. Their army was utterly ^uted with the loss of 30,000 men, among whom were the sons of Heli ; and the ark itself fell into the hands of the victorious Philistines. Q. Did Heli survive this misfortune ? A. No ; on hearing that the ark had fallen into the hands of the enemy, he fell over from his chair and died. He was ninety-eight yean old, and had governed Israel during ihe space of forty years. Q. Did the Philistines retain the ark a| long time? A. No ; for the country being shortly after- wards scourged with plagues, the princes of the I FOURTH EPOCH. i. Philistines resolved to send it back to the I» raelitcs. In order tu assure themselyes Jiat all their onlamitiei were Cilll^*ell by their detention and profanation of the Hrk, the IMiilistines laid it upon a now wain drawn by two kine wh'v^o calves wore cnrefully retained. If, contrary to their natural instinct, the kine proceeded towards the ilebx-w territories, they then should conclude th it thoir affliciions camo from God; if otherwise, that they were kdventitious and the mere efToot of chance, in this in> stance, Gud condescend :'d to the weakness of those idol aters and, by a speciiU providence, directed the kioc towards the confines of Israel. Q. To what city did the kine proceed ? A. To Bethsanics, the first town of the He" brew dominions. Q. How did the Bethsamites receive th« ark? A. They came in crowds from all parts of the country to see it ; but as they were impelled thereto more through curiosity than by zeal for God's honor, they soon felt the same avenging rod that had so severely chastised the Phi* listines. Q. How were Hlfiej pvpMpcl for ibiir pttripf Ity? TTItP i r!i;i . J' Mil :y ':: i' ;'! 78 baorbd history. A. By the death of seventy of their chiefs and upwards of fifty thousand of the people. It was thus that God taught His people to respect what was consecrated to His service. We should profit by so terrible a chastisement, lest, receiving the Sacraments Id unworthy dispositions, we draw down the wrath of God and incur everlasting reprobation. Q. Who was the last judge of Israel ? A. The prophet Samuel, who, like Samson, had been consecrated to God from his youth. He governed Israel during the space of twenty years with great ability and sagacity, B. C. 1095. Q. Why did the people desiro to be governed by kings instead of judges ? A. Because of the corruption of the two sons oQ Samuel on whom the government of the nation devolved when the prophet, on account of his advanced age, was unable to administer it. Q. How many judges were there and how long did their govern men t last ? A. There were 14 judges, who governed Israel during a space of about 300 years. Q. What ren^arkable ^ojpan lived undef the FOURTH IPOO 7» A. Kuth, a Moabite, whose attaohmont to her mother-in-law led her to identify herself with the people of God, B. C. 1254. As a great famine raged in Israel, Elimelech of Beth- lehum, retired with his wife Noemi and his two sons into the territory of the Moabites. Noemi married her sons to two young women of the country, whose names were Orpha and Ruth. On the death of her hunband and children, Noemi having no consolation to expect in the lard of Moab, resolved to return to her own country and kindred. She communicated her detiign to Orpha and Ruth, who entreated her to let them bear her company. Uuth fondly clung to her, saying : ** Whithersoever thou goest, I wUl go; and where thou dwoUest, I also will dffoll. Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God ; nothing but death shall ever part us." Ilor tender and filial attachment was not long without iu reward. She was espoused by Booz, a rich and virtu- lous man, and from this alliance was born Obed, the father I of Jesse and grandfather of David. The generous conduct of Ruth is an admirable type of the afifection and love that children should ever cherish I for their parents ; like her, they should console them in their affliction, succor them in their necessities^ and b^ faithful to them unto death. I I. 't^ 80 SACRED HISTORY. irw^^ ®i w FIFTH EPOCH, From the establishment of the monarchy 1095, to the death of Solomon 975. Q. Who was the first king of Israel ? A. Saul, a young shepherd of the tribe of Benjamin. Q. What circumstances accompanied Saul's election ? A. His father having lost his asses, sent him in quest of them. Being unsuccessful in his search, he addressed himself to the prophet Sam- uel, who then informed him of the choice the Lord had made of him to govern His people, privately anointed him king, and gave hiiu various tokens to assure him that his desii'na- tion was from God, B. C. 1005. Q. What did Samuel on the following day ? A. He assembled the people, and cast lots for the sovereignty. The lot having fallen on Saul, the people received him with great accla- mations, shouting, ** Long live the king." Q. By wb4t (Hid S^\\\ fil^nklm bU acoendon to thf tHrono ? ii I PIPTfl EPOCH. 81 A. By a glorious victory over the Ammonites. IIo afterwards drew the sword against the Philistines ; and, in the war that ensued, incur- red the displeasure of the Lord. Q. How did Saul incur the displeasure of God? A. By having presumed, though not of the priestly race, to offer a holocaust to the Lord. God, however, delayed the punishment due to this sacrilegious intrusion until the measure of his iniquity was filled up. Q. ^y what great exploit did Jonathan, the king's son, render himself conspicuous in this war? A. Tired of the slow proceedings of his father and full of confidence in the God ol' battles, he secretly went out of the camp with no other attendant than his armor-bearer, threw hiinsc^lf within the enemy's lines, and boldly attacked all who dared oppose his progress. His armor- bearer seconded his efforts, and both performed buch prodigies of valor that they spread terror and confusion throughout the whole camp of the Philistines. FT 82 SACRBD HISTORY. mm ' <« Q. What did Saul seeing the confusion of the enemy ? i A. Profiting of the confusion in which he saw the Philistines, he hound himself and all his army under penalty of death not to taste any food until he had completely revenged him- self on his enemies. Q. What did Jonathan in the heat of the pursuit ? A. In the heat of the pursuit, Jonathan, who had not heard of his father*s oath, spent with hunger and fatigue, dipped the end of his rod in a honeycomb and caught a*s]ight refreshment as he passed. Q. What was the consequence of this act ? A. When this act became known to Saul, he declared that his son should die ; but the people with whom the young priace was a great favorite, interposed and saved his life. Q. How did Saul again incur the displeasure of the Ahnighty ? ^'^ A. Having defeated the Amalekitea, he spared, contrary to the order of God, both their king and the finest of their flocks. FIFTH EPOCH. 83 lathan, , spent end of a •slight act? Saul, but the a great )leasure Q. How was he punished for this disobe- dience ? 3 A. God sent Samuel to announce to him that in consequence of his disobedience he was finally rejected, and that the royal crown should be transferr' ^ to an other family, B. C. 1070. y. How did Saul receive this sentence ? A. Struck 'vith remorse, he bitterly cried out, *' I have sinned." Q. What did Samuel in complianoe with an order that he had received from God ? A. He went to Bethlehem and anointed David, the youngest of Jesse's sons, who was then tending his flocks on the neighboring plains. Q. What affliction befell Saul after his final rejection ? O A. He was seized with an evil spirit that tormented him in a very cruel manner. 'O His offioera through compassion adrised him to look out for some skilful musician, who, by the melody of his art might lull the rage of his passions and soothe his soul to peace. Dayid, being recommended as an excellent player OQ the harp, was accordingly sent for ; and so well did k» please the king by the sweet rariety of his strains that h« In ■f- 84 SACRED HiaXOIiY. i'll ■i"'i; was made royal armor-bearer. David was then about fif- teen jeara of age, B. C. 1070. Q. What djiring exploit was achieved by David when he had attained his twenty-third year ? A. A fresh war having broken out between the Israelites and the Philistines^ the hos- tile armies encamped in sight of each other upon two neighboring hills. A Philistine of gigantic stature, named Goliah, advanced be- tween the two armies, &nd scornfully challenged any man amongst the Israelites to meet him in single combat and thus decide the contest. This challenge he repeated for forty days, and, as no one had courage to accept it, Saul prom- ised his daughter in marriage to him who would encounter the vain-glorious giant. Thereupon David accepted the challenge, and prepared to meet Goliah. According to the ordinary calculation, Goliah was 9 fe«t 9 inches in stature; he was encased in a. coat of mailj that weighed about 156 pounds ; the staff of his spear, according to the Scripture phrase, was like ' history. W^M 'i Q, Were all the members of the royal family actuated by the same feeling towards David ? A. No ; Jonathan, the king's son, loved David " as 'hia own soul ; " and they swore perpetual fricn Iship to each other. Jonathan is as noble a type of magnanimous generositj, true nnd inviolable triondship as can be found within the whole range of history. Though the heir apparent to a crown, he knits friendship with the son of an humble siiephord ; the glory of David outshines his own, and, far from growing jealous, he unites with the jubilant Israelites ii singing the feats of his bosom-friend; he is faithful when prosperity smiles, and when adversity frowns j as well when his friend is sumptuously entertained at the court of his father, as when ho is compelled to become a fugitive, in order to save his life. Q. What did Saul seeing that David evaded all his snares? A. He feigned to repair his past ingratitude, and promised to give hiiu his second daughter in marriage, on condition that he would first kill one hundred Philistines. Q. What was the result ? A. David led out his little troop to battle, slew no less than two hundred of the enemy, and thus compelled the wily king to fulfil hi? promise. PIITTH KPOCH. 87 Q. Did Saul then become reconciled to David ? A. No ; far from being reconciled to his virt- uous son-in-law, he again attempted to deprive him of life. Q. What did David, to escape the impending danger ? A. He withdrew to the house of Achimeleoh, the high-priest. Q. What did Saul on hearing this ? A. He sent for Achimelech, who immediat/cly repaired into his presence, accompanied by eighty-five other priests all in their sacerdotal robes. Q. How was Achimelech received ? A. The king in a violent fit of anger, accused him of treason, as having conspired with David against his life. The virtuous pontiff eloquently defended himself against the accusation ; but, notwithstanding his innocence and the sacred character with which he and his attendants were vested, they were all cruelly put to death, B. C. 1060. Q. Whither did David flee after the death oi' AoLimelech ? f^l^ 88 SACRED mSTORY. w 'IT! ■I ' A. At first, he sought refuge ia the depths of a wilderness ; but, being closely pursued by his enemies, he threw himself upon the gener- osity of the king of Geth, in whose dominions he dwelt until the death of Saul. Q. How did Saul die? A. Having been defeated by the Philistines at the battle of Gilboa, and seeing his three sons lying among the slain, he vainly solicited death from the hand of his armor-bearer and fell upon his own sword^ B. C. 1055. Q. How did David receive the news of Saul's death ? A. Far from rejoicing at an event that put him in possession of a kingdom, he deeply lamented the death of the unhappy monarch and the premature fall of his loving friend Jonathan. It was on this occasion that he pathetically exclaimed : " The illustrious of Israel are slaiu upon the mountains. Oh I tell it not in Goth j publish it not in Ascalon, lest the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircum- cised triumph." Q. Did the twelve tribes ununimously ac- knowledge David as their king ? FIFTH KPOOH. 89 A. No ; that of Juda alone proclaimed him king, whilst all the others at the instigation of Abner, general of Saul's army, acknowledged Isboseth, the son of the late monarch, for their sovereign. Q. How long did this state of things last ? A. For seven years, at the end of which, Isboseth being slain, David was proclaimed king over all Israel, B. C. 1048. Q. What place did David select for his royal residence ? A. The fortress of Sion in Jerusalem, which, after a desperate conflict, he took from the Jebusites. Q. What did David when peace was restored to his kingdom ? A. He transferred the ark from its tempo- rary resting-place to a magnificent pavilion, erected within the precincts of his own palace. Tho procession was conducted with all the solemn show uf religious pomp that became the piety of a great and niiiniticent king. Kvery thing tended to augment the public jubilee when an accident suddenly filled the minds of all with consternation. Oza, who conducted the oxen, eeeiug the ark lean to one side and fearing that it should fall, rashly stretched out his hand to sustain it and wu4 a 1 T^ I. SACRED HISTOUT. fis ^< 15 ihfl 4ii.n'i inatantlj itruok dead. David, terrified at so severe a shastisement, durst not proceed any further in the exe- cution of his project, but deposited the ark in the house of A virtuous Invite, named Obededom. When his fears were allayed, ho re-ossuuiod his design ; and, to prevent any new accident, ordered that the ark should be carried by the priests and Levitcs as ordained in the law. David himself played upon his harp and danced betore the ark as it was borne along, while skilful musiciaus made the neighborhood rusound with strains of vocal and instru- mental harmony. Q. Was David always faithful to God ? A. He always preserved a lively faith in God; but, carried away by passion, he mo- mentarily swerved from the path of virtue and rendered himself guilty of the double crime of adultery and murder. Q. How was he punished for these crimes ? A. By the revolt of his son Absalom. Q. To what condition was David reduced ? A. Having no more than six hundred guards to oppose the rebel force and fearing to be besieged in his own city, he resolved to save himself by flight. Simei, one of Saul's kindred, seeing the royal fugitive, reviled him in the most abusive language and threw stones at him. Those who acco\Dpanied David begged le&ve »O0H. •I to panish the insolent man ; but the prince io the true spirit of a penitent, prevented them. Q. How was peace again restored to the kingdom ? A. Bv the death of Absalom. Q. Relate how this toefk place. A. David having organized a large force, invested Joab with the chief command. This hardy general soon marched agiiinst the rebels and routed them in a terrible battle, wh'ch was fought near the forest of Ephrairn. Absalom himself hastily fled, mounted on a swift mule ; but as he hurried on, his long and flowing hnir became entangled in the branches of an oak- tree ; and the mule, passing onwards, left the unhappy prince suspended in the air. The charge which David had given to spare his son, prevented any one from laying violent hands on him ; but when Joab heard of the accident, he hastened to the spot and pierced him with three darts, B. C. 1023. Q. How did David receive the tidings of Absolom's death ? A. As 80on as ho heard that his son was 6>. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 1^128 .1^ lis M 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 ^ 6" — ► <$> ^ V /i O ^. ^ // / /^ Photographic Sciences Corporation 33 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. MS80 (716) 872-4503 92 «i«^mKD HISTORY. sluin, ho withdrew to his chamber and gavo vent to his anguish in bitter wailinp^s. " Mj son Absalom," he would say, '* Absalom m^ son ; who would grant that T miirht die for thoe, Absalom my son, my son Ab=\ n 7\ ■ .r I- f 'f- t fi . ■■'■ .■r- 1 96 BAORBD HISTOST. A. Solomon died in the fifty-eighth year of his age after a reign of forty years, B. C. 975. It is believed by some of the holy fathere that i:^louion repented of his sinfol wanderings, and that the Book of ficolesiastes is an embodiment of his sentiments of sorrow and ropentanoe. SIXTH EPOCH, From the death of Solomon, B. C. 075, to the captivity of Babylon, B. C. 606. Q. By whom was Solomon succeeded ? A. By his son Roboam, a harsh and tyran- nical prince. Q. What did the people present to him shortly after his accession to the throne ? A, They presented him a petition, soliciting a diminution of the taxes and other imposts that weighed heavily upon them. Q. How did Roboam receivb their petition ? A. Having adopted the advice of his young and arrogant courtiers, he rejected their petition, saying : " If my father beat you with whips, I shall beat you with scorpions. " SIXTH IPOOB. 19 year of 0. 975. , i^lomoD Book of Df sorrow 976, to 906. I? 1 tyran- to him ? )liciting imposts itition ? 8 young )etition, rhips, I Q. What was the consequence of this con- temptuous answer ? A. Ten of the tribes openly revolted, and chose Jeroboam for their king, B. C. 975. Q. Who was Jeroboam ? A. Jeroboam was or 9 of Solomon's superin- tendents, who, having several times conspired ni^ainst his royal master's life, fled into exile in order to escape the punishment due to his crimes. On hearing that Solomon was dead, he returned to Jerusalem and fomented the discontent of the people. Q. What did Roboam in this emergency T A. He raised a powerful army and waa pro- ceeding to make war on the revolted tribes when, being admonished by a holy man named Simeias that what had taken place was in punishment of Solomon's apostasy, he desisted from his enterprise and submitted to the divine decree. Q. By what names are the two kingdoms known ? A. The tribes of Juda and Benjamin, faith- ful to j^# lio^ae of Dmif were 0(iUe4 tl^e kiii|* 98 BAORID ristort. t^ I I f I rail! dorn of Juda ; whilst the other ten trihes that adhered to Jeroboam, were styled the kingdom of Israel. Q. How did the Levites act on this occasion ? A. At first, they joined the seceding tribes; but finding that Jeroboam would not permit them to exercise their fuactions, they returned to the kingdom of Juda. KINGDOM OF ISRAEL Q. Where did Jeroboam establish the capital of his kingdom ? A. At Sichem, a town situated among the mountains of Ephiaim, thirty-four miles from Jerusalem. Q. Did Jeroboam persevere in the worship •f the true God ? A. No ; fearing that his subjects would return to the allegiance of their former sot- ereign should he let them continue to sacrifice in the temple of Jerusalem, he set up two golden calves and ordered divine honors to b« paid to them, SIXTH KPOCH. 99 }es that [ingdom loasion ? f tribes; ; permit returned le capital nong the iles from worship ja would mer sot- » sacrifice up two ors to h« Q. How was Jeroboam punished for his im- piety ? A. By the speedy extinction of the dynasty, which he had taken so much pains and incur- red 80 much guilt to establish on firm foun- dations. Q. When did Jeroboam die ? A. He died after a reign of twenty-two years, B. 0. 954. Q. How did his successors live ? A. Almost all of them lived in the most degrading idolatry, and ended their life by a violent death. Nadab, son and sueoessor of Jeroboam, was treaoher* •asly killed by Baasa, general of the army, who njnrped the throne and exterminated the race of Jeroboam, B. 0. 964. Bla, son and successor of Baasa, was assassinated in the midst of a sumptuous feast by Zamri, a captain of the army. B. C. 928. Zamri usurped the erown and was blocked up in his lapital by Amri, who pressed the siege with such rigoi that at the end of seven day?, the usurper, in order to avoid falling into the enemy's hands, set fire to his palace and perished in the flames with all his family, B. 0. 92S. Amri then carried on for four years an active warfare 100 BAOnED BISTORT. U, ■ I .'ii ^ ^ of the latter, Amri became sole master of the kingdon, built the oity of Samaria whioh he made his capital, and died a wretched death after a miserable reign of ten years, B. G. 918. Q. Who was Achab ? A. Achab was the son and successor of Amri ; he surpassed all his predecessors in impiety and cruelty. Q. By whom was he encouraged in his im- pious undertakings ? A. By his queen Jezabel, who strove to exti^ pate the true religion and re-establish the wor- ship of Baal. Q. What great prophet flourished during this reign ? A. Elias, who was cruelly persecuted by Achab and Jezabel for the liberty with which he reproved them for their crimes. Q. What did Elias announce to Achab as a punishment of his impiety ? A. He announced that neither rain nor dew should fall upon the earth for the space of three years and a half. Q, Wbat was th9 resuH of tbU brought ? fllZTH KPOCR. 101 A. A dreadful famine that desolated the whole country. Q. Whither did Elias retire while the famine raced? A. He retired to a desert place near the borders of a little torrent, and was there fed by ravens that brought him food both morning aad evening. When the torrent had dried up, he sought the hospitality of a poor widow of Sarepta, whose charity he rewarded by mul- tiplying her oil and restoring her son to life. Q. What did Achab in the meantime ? A. He caused diligent search to be made for the holy prophet, whom he regarded ds the eole cause of the heavy disasters that distressed the kingdom. Q. What was the result ? A. Elias, impelled by the spirit of God, came forth to meet the haughty king, and told him that the idolatrous practices which every where prevailed, were the principal cause of all the disasters that befell his kingdom. EUaa then proposed to the king to assemble all the priests of Baal on Mount GarmeU where he would offer a saoritioe to the Qod whom he worshiped, whilst thoy offered on« tc 102 8A0RBD BI8T0ET. {■''m ■■•■ %: -*! m - ^' - ■ i i their idol. It wm agreed that the God of him whote •aorij^AMOiild be oonsumed by fire, should be reoognii^e'l M thii mie true Ood. The priestii of Uaal invoked their god from momiDg till noon, but in vain ; no answer was given, DO fire descended. Elias then ironically rebuked them, laying : ** Cry in a lou Jer voice, perhaps your god is talking, or is at an inn, or on a journey, or perhaps is asleep and must be awaked." £lia8, on the contrary, had no sooner prayed than fire descended flom heaven on the holocaust and consumed it. When the people saw this prodigy, they prostrated them- selves, crying out : « It is the Lord, the Ood of Elias, who is the true God." They then fell upon the priests of Baal, and slew them all to the number of 460. Elias afterwards prayed God to put an end to the drought Scarcely had be finished his prayer when the heavens, which were clear and serene became dark with clouds; and there fell a copious shower, which refreshed the earth and restored feriility. Q. What Dew crime did Aohab commit ? A.. In union with the perfidious Jezabel, he caused an inoffensive Israelite, named Naboth, to be put to death, in order to take possession of his vineyard. Q. What was the consequence of this crime ? A. While Achab was yet congratulating himself on the success of his perfidy^ Elias an- nounced to him on the part of God that in punishment of his criuids he should soon b« itlXrU KFUCU. 103 lim whoM reoognine'l »ked their Dswer WM ly rebuked IS your god perhaps ii { than fire Dsumed it. ated them- Eliai, who its of fiaal, afterwardi uroely had were clear here fell i id restored imit? zabel, he Naboth, possession is orime ? atulating Elias an- that in soon be carried out of life by a violent death^ and that ull his race should be speedily exterminated. Q. When was this prediction fulfilled ? A. Two years afterwards in a terrible battle, fought between the troops of Aohab and those of Benadad, king of Syria. Q. What particular oircumstanoes attended Achab'H death ? A. Hearing that the king of Syria had or- dered the officers of his army to direct all their efforts against his person, he divested himself of the royal insignia and thus cowardly exposed Josaphat, his ally, to the aim of the enemy ; but God, who knows where to find the guilty when the hour of His vengeance has come caused an arrow, shot at random, to pierce the impious Achab, B. C. 897. . Q. By whom was Achab succeeded ? A. By his son Ochosias. Q. What accident happened this prince in the beginning of his reign ? A. He fell from a window of his palace and was dangerously wounded. Wishing to know whether he should recover from his illness, he \h ''*'i t ill Sii 104 HACKED UitsTOLY. sent to consult Beelzebub the idol-god of Ao- caron, Elias met the messengers, and told them that they might return and tell their royal master that he would not long survive. Q. What did Ochosias, irritated by this answer of the prophet ? A. He despatched one of his officers with a company of fifty men to apprehend him. The officer having spoken with arrogance to the man of God, he and his company were con- sumed by fire from heaven. A second band, despatched on a similar message, shared the same fate. . Q. What did the captain of the third ? A. Profiting by the example of his predeces- sors, he respectfully saluted the prophet and besought him to return with him to his royal master. Elias complied with this respectfully tendered request, and, being introduced into the king^B presence, feared not to repeat the fatal sentence which he had already pronounced against him. Q. What afterwards became of Elias ? A. As he was one day walking with his dis* til" SIXTH Ki'oon. 105 of Ac- rid told ill their •vive. by this ; with a L The to the 3re con- d band, ired the d? )rcdece8- het and lis royal )ectfully 3ed into eat the uounced i? his diB- ciplc Eliscus, they were parted asunder fiery horses and a fiery chariot into which the prophet having entered, he was carried up to heaven, B. C. 895. Q. On whom did his prophetic spirit descend? A. On Eliseus, his disciple, whose fame sooa spread throughout Israel and Syria. Q. What remarkable person sought to avail himself of the miraculous power of the prophet ? A. Naaman, commander of the armies of Syria, who was afflicted with leprosy. Q. How did he obtain his cure ? A. He came with a numerous train of attend- anis to the dwelling of Eliseus, who sent a servant to inform him that to be healed he nmst go and wash himself seven times in the Jordan. Q. How did Naaman receive this prescrip- tion ? A. He was so offended at the apparent inci- vility of the prophet that he would have imme- diately returned to Syria, had his attendants not persuaded him to comply with the prophet^s prescription. Accordingly, he went to the Jor- If I JO i^AOKKD HISTORY. ilik daa, bent himself seven times beneath its waters, and rose clear from the inveterate leprosy. Q. Who succeeded Ochosias ? A.. His brother Joram, who carried on a successful waifare against Benadad, king of Syria. Q. To whom was his success owing ? A. To the prophet Eliseus, who, by th^ supernatural knowledge he had of what was passing in the Syrian camp, enabled Joram to frustrate the plans of his enemy. Q. What did Benadad when assured that Eliseus was the man who defeated all his strat- agems ? A. He sent a detachment of his troops to apprehend him ; but God, at the request of His servant, struck them with blindness. Eliseus then went out to meet them and told them that they had lost their way, upon which he offered to conduct them to the man whom they sought and led them away to Samaria. Q. What did the prophet when he arf'ived in Samaria ? A. He prayed the Lord to open their eyes f ''?] n4m dlXTH KFOOH. >7 that they might see the danger of the situation which they were in. He afterwards entreated the king of Israel in their behalf and obtained their release. Q. Was Benadad appeased by this act of generosity ? A. No; he immediately assembled all his troops and laid siege to Samaria. The inhabitants of the beleaguered city soon felt all the horrors of a close and protracted siege. Joram, racked with despair at the sight of the evils entailed on his king- dom and believing Eliseus to be the principal cause, com- manded one of his officers to go and strike ofif hie head ; but a moment after, having repented of the rash order, he himself hastened towards the dwelling of the prophet, in order to prevent its execution. Eliseus then told him that on the following day the city would be abundantly supplied with provisions. On hearing this, one of the king's courtiers expressed his disbelief, upon which the prophet answered : " Yet thou shalt see it with thine own eyes, but shalt not taste thereof." Q. How was the city delivered ? A. During the night an alarm was spread in the Syrian camp that an enemy was in full march upon them. On hearing this startling rumor, the Syrians took to flight, leaving an immense quantity of provisions in their desert- ed camp. Hi 108 SAORBD HI0TOET. h:; Q. How was the second pare of the predic- tion fulfilled ? A. The people, having poured out in crowds to plunder the abandoned camp, the incredulous oo'irtier, who was stationed at the town-gate, as crushed to death by the throng. Q. What, did Joram afterwards undertake ? A. He undertook to capture the fortress of Ramoth Gilead, which had fallen into the hands of the Syrians. Having received a wound in a combat with the enemy, he invested Jehu with the chief command of the army and returned to Jezrael. Q. What followed ? A. Jehu, who had been previously anointed king, marched without delay to Jezrael. The wounded monarch went out to meet him ; and, perceiving that his intentions were nostile, im- mediately took to flight, whereupon Jehu bent his bow and shot the royal fugitive through the heart, B. C. 884. Q. What was the fate of Jezabel ? A. Wishing to propitiate the victor, she dress- ed herself in gaudy apparel and appeared at one UZTB ■POCH. 109 of the windows of herpalaoe as Jehu passed. Little touched by outward demonstrations, Jehu bade his eunuchs throw her headlong down •, her body was trampled on by the hoofs of the horses, and afterwards devoured by dogs, ac- cording to the prediction of Elias. Unfortunately for himaelf and hit tubjeots, Jeha did not display a similar leai for the ezUrpatioa of idolatry^ he oarriod his forgetfulneas of Qod so far as to wombip the golden calyes, ereoted.by Jeroboam at Dan and BeiheL lie died after a reign of twenty-eight years, B. C. 85d. Q. Who were the next three kings of Israel ? A. Joachaz, Joas, and Jeroboam II., whose reign lasted fif]^>one years and was remarkable for its great prosperity. Q. What prophet flourished during the reign of this prince ? A. The prophet Jonas, whom the lord isent to preach penance to the Ninivites. Q. How did Jonas fulfil his mission ? A. Believing himself unequal to the impor- tance of the undertaking, he thought to avoif the arduous task by flight ; and, accordingly embarked on board a ship that was bound tui ^iMMniif ft iMrjfQif\ gn ^^'^9019,9% of Am ^i»o| 110 8A0RXD HISTORY. ■fill 1 Q. What happened as they had put to sea ? A. A '^lent storm arose ; and the trembling mariners, believing their distress to be an effect of the wrath of God on some one of the crew, called Jonas who had composed himself to sloop, and bade him pray for their safety. As the storm did not abate, they resolved to oast lots, to find out the criminal ; and the lot falling on Jonas, heboid them that to save themselves fton aUpwreok they must throw him into the Q. Did Jonas perish ? A. No ^ he was immediately swallowed by a sea-moDsier, in whoso belly he remained three days and Aree n^hts, during which time he ceased not to bewail his disobedience and im- pk>re the merey of God, who, graciously hear- ing his prayer, caused tiie fish to cast him on the shore. Q. Bid Jonas then obey the Lord's com- kiand? A. Yea, he proceeded to Ninive and preached to effioaoiously to the people that they covcr- jid themnelyea with sackcloth m^ s^es, wh^rc* Bixm IPOOH. Ill upon the Lord forgave them their offence and spared their city. Q. Who were the last kings of Israel ? A. Zacharias, Sellum, Manahem, Phaceia, Phacee, and Osee. Q. What took place during the reign of Osee ? A. Samaria, his capital-city, was invested by the army of Salmanasar and taken after a protracted siege of three years, B. 0. 721. Q. What became of the inhabitants ? A. They were dispersed throughout the prov- inces of the Assyrian empire. Q. How long had the kingdom of Israel lasted? A. About 250 years, during which its scep- tre had been swayed by 19 sovereigns. Q. What distinguished person was among the captives ? A. Tobias, a holy man of the tribe of Neph- thali, whose history is recorded in Holy Writ for the instruction of after-ages. This holjr man, by his superior wisdom and the ujr rightness of his conduct, gained the esteem and cooli- denoe of gaimanasar, who i^ppointe4 him ponreyor of hit mW 112 BAORVD BISTORT. •■ii I ^ i -1} kingdom. He lost this position under Senaaoherib, who, ezadperatod at the destruction of an army that he had sent agaiust Jerusalem, poured out his yengeauce upon the captive Israelites. He caused great numbers of tHem to be massacred eyery day, and suffered no one to giye them burial. Tobias, who feared God more than the wrath of the king, buried by night those of his compatriots who had fallen victims to the cruelty of the tyranL He thus drew down upon himself the ire of the monarch, who oontiscated his property and would have put him to death had he not saved himself by timely flight. The haughty Assyrian was shortly afterwards slain by his own sons, while worshiping in the temple of one of his gods. Tobias then reoSvered his liberty and his goods. When Tobias thought the hour of his dissolution to be at hand, he called his son, the young Tobias, and gave him his last advices. ** Hear, my son," said he, ** the words of my mouth, and lay them as a foundation in thy heart. — When Glod shall take my soul, thou shalt bury my body ; and thou shalt honor thy mother all the days of her life, and when she also shall have ended the time of her life, bury her by me. — All the days of thy life, have God in thy mind and take heed thou never consent to any sin. — According to thy abUity, be merciful; if thou hast much, give abundantly ; if thou hast little, take care even so to bestow willingly a little. — Never suffer pride in thy mind or in thy word, for from it all perdition took its beginning. — ^If any man hath done any work for thee, pay hiin bis hire immediately. — Never do to an other what thou wouldst hate to have done to thee. — Eat thy bread with the hungry and tho needy, and cover the ui^^ with (by gftrmonti.<--S9o]f oouni ol i^wap of ^ win %m SIXTH BPOOH. 113 lb, who, he had se upon of them ) to give haa the ipatriota nL He roh, who to death laughty vn sons, Tobias on to be ad gave le, '* the nin thy alt bury he days ;he time thy life, consent -cifulj if st little, er suffer )erdilion work for lo to an BO. — Eat over th« man.— Bless God at all times, and beseech Him to direot thy ways." After these instructions, bo fraught with wisdom, Tobias informed his son that he had lent ten talents (;|^IO,OtfO) to an Israelite, named Q-abelus, who lived at JtUges, a town of Media; and that he should now go to reclaim that sum. The obedient son immediately went forth in quest oi some faithful person to guide him on his long and perilous journey ; and, meeting a comely young m.an in the equipage of a traveler, civilly saluted him, — little thinking that under such a garb was concealed a heavenly messenger, whom God had appoiutod for his guidance and protection. He asked the stranger who he was, whence he came, and if he knew the way that led inti the country of the Modes. The angel replied that he had been at Ragoe and dwelt with an Israelite by the name of Gabelus. Overjoyed at his good fortune, young Tobias introduced the traveler to his father, who was equally well pleased with the candor and friendly promises of the comely youth. After bidding his father and mother an affectionate farewell, Tobias set off with his guide for Rages. On the very first day of the journey, the angel delivered him from an enormous fish that advanced to devour him while he was washing his feet in tae Tigris. Tobias seized the monster, and, according to the direction of the angel, took out the gall, which he preserved for future use. On arriving at Ecbatana, the chief city of the Modes, Tobias was received with great joy by his relative Raguel, whose daughter, according to the advice of his heavenly guide, he asked in marriage. The angel then proceeded to Rages at the request of Tobias, who remained witk III m lit I «i,| i 1^ .T J lU ttl.0RiCO HISTOBT. :.■(!■ i Kagael to oelebrate big nuptials, after whioh ha retimad to li(iiiiTe. The parents of Tobias were all this while in great anxi- ety about their son, whom the/ fondly oalled the staff of their old age, and the oomfort of their ^ife. His mother went every day to the top of a neighboring hillock, to watch his coming. At last^ she perceived him, and, with great haste, ran to impart the joyful tidings to her hus- band. When the first emotions had subsided, Tobias took the gall which he bad preserved and applied it to the eyes of his aged father, who had been aooidently blinded, and he gradually recovered his sight. He then recounted to his parents all that his guide had done fur him during the journey ; and, in the warmth of their gratitude, they offered the angel half of all they possessed ; but ho declined their generous offer, saying : ** 1 am the angel Raphael, one of the seven who stand be- fore the Lord." Struck with religious awe at these words, they fell prostrate to the ground. " Fear not," said the augel, ** ii ii I that offered to the Lord your prayers when you buried the dead : the Lord sent me towards you, to cure you ; render Uim thanks for all that you owe Him." The angel then disappef>x)d, leaving them full of joy and admiration. The venerable Tobias lived 40 years after this event, and died attheageof 102 years. He left behind him a faithful imitator of his piety and virtue in the young To- bias, who presents to all succeeding ages an accomplished model of the respect and obedience that children owe to their parents. ■IXTH IPOCH. 116 KINGDOM OF JUDA. Q. Did Roboam always remain faithful to God? A. No ; tbousrh humbled for a time by the 8ohism which his rash conduct had occasioned, he soon after abandoned the God* of his fathers and fell into idolatry. Q. How was he punished for his crimes ? A. By the invasion of Sesac, king of Egypt, who took Jerusalem and carried away the treasures of the temple and those of the royal palace, B. C. 971. Q. How long did Roboam reign ? 4.. Seventeen years. Q. Who was his successor ? A. His son Abia, who distinguished himself Dy the victory he gained over Jeroboam. Q. Give the particulars of this victory. A. Jeroboam marched against him at the head of 800,000 men, full of resolution and courage ; and, having but 400,000 to oppose to Buoh a formidable host, he humbly besought f'-t m i\ W: \m I I lie ■AORBD HI8T0ST. the Lord to come to his aid. His prayer was heard, and the king of Israel was defeated with the loss of 500,000 of his troops. Tbii li the greatest namber on record of slain and wounded in any battle, whether of ancient or modern biBtory. Q. Who was the successor of Abia ? A. Asa, his son, who reigned 41 yearfi. Q. By whom was the country invaded shortly after the accession of Asa ? A. By Zara, king of Ethiopia, who advanced at the head of 1,000,000 of men. Asa, placing his trust in God, marched out against him and routed his vast army with great slaughter. Q, Who succeeded Asa ? A. His son Josaphat, a prince equally dis- tinguished for his religious virtues and royal qualities, B. C. 914. '^ With an ardont leal for the duties of religion he combin- ed an unwearied application to promote the welfare of his people. He gained several brilliant factories over the enemies of his country, and«awed the neighboring princes into respect His character would be blameless had he not espoused his son to the famous Athalia, the worthy daughter of the impious Aohab and the cruel Jeiabel. Q By whom wm Josaphat saooeeded ? tlXTI irooH. 117 ^er was id with ain and modern ITS, shortly Ivanced placing iim and >er. lly dia^ royal oombin- elfare of over the g princes I had he d worthy label. I? A. By his son Joram, who, following the counsels of the perfidious Athalia, involved in one general massacre his six brothers and some of the most eminent men of the kingdom. Q. Who succeeded Joram ? A. His son Ochosias, who inherited all the vices of his father. Q. How did Ochosias die ? A. He was slain by Jehu while on a visit to his kinsman, the idolatrous Joram, king of Israel. Q. Who seized the reins of government after the death of this prince ? A. His mother, the impious Athalia. Q. How did she treat the sons of Ochosias, her grandchildren ? A. She gave orders for them all to be put to death. Joas, however, then but one year old, was saved from her cruel vengeance and concealed I n the temple by Josabeth, the sister of Ocho> sias and wife of the high-priest Joiada. Q. How did Joas obtain possession of the throne of his father ? A. When he had attained his seventh jeta^ 118 SAORKD HT8TORT. ii ^-'1 ill f w. the high-priest, on a solemn festival-day, told the people, who had assembled in the temple, how the young prince had been saved from the savage fury of Athalia, his grandmother. On hearing this, the multitude burst forth into acclamations of joy, and acknowledged him for their king. Q. What did Athalia on hearing the accla- mations of the people ? A. She immediately proceeded to the temple, but was thrust out by the soldiers and slain on the spot, B. C. 878. Q. How did Joas govern the nation ? A. As long as Joiada lived, he governed with moderation and sagacity ; but after the death of that virtuous pontiff, he re-established the worship of idols and caused Zacharias, the son and successor of Joiada, to be stoned to death for having reproached him with his crimes. What blnck ingratitude 1 Joiada a thousand times ex- posed his own live, to save this Inst ?cion of the house of David: he brought him up within the precinct-' 'f the temple with all the fond .solicitude of a tarhor; lie ins mot- ed him in the duties of roligion, and ai:- 122 8A0RBD EIST^AT* plighted faith, shortly afterwards laid siege to Jerusalem. Q. What did Ezechias in this emergency ? A. He went to the temple, and implored the Lord to save his people from the sword of the Assyrians. God heard his earnest prayer, and sent an exterminating angel who slew 185,000 of the enemy. It was during thio war and while Jerusalem was.threat- •ned by the AssyriaDS that Ezeobias fell sick of the plague. The loTe of life, the sad oonditioo of his country, and the throne of David being left without an heir, caused him to grieve at his fate and to pray earnestly for his recovery. The Lord condescended to his supplications and sentlsaiaa to tell him that in three days he should ba able to go to the temple, and that fifteen years more wt^ie added to his life. In confirmation of these extraordinary promises, the prophet made the shadow cast by the index on the dial of Achas, to retrograde ten degrees. Q. Did this save Jerusalem ? A. Yes ; Sennacherib immediately fled with the remnant of his army, and was soon after- wards slain by his own sons in the temple of his idol-god at Ninive. Q. How long did Ezechias reign ? Twenty nine years. ii ■* BIXTH BPOCH. 113 Q. By whom was he succeeded ? *^ A. By his son Manasses, during whose reign idolatry was publicly professed, the most abom- inable practices prevailed, and Jerusalem was filled with the blood of innocent victims. Q. Who was the most eminent victim of his cruelty ? A. The prophet Isaias, who, according to a Jewish tradition, was sawed in two by orders of the tyrant for having reproached him with his enormous crimes, B. C. 681. Isaias is the first of the four great prophets. He was the nephew of Osias, under whose reign he oommenoed to prophesy. He predicted the invasion of Juda by the combined forces of Israel and Syria, consoled Ezechias in his illness, and foretold the miraculous defeat of Senna- cherib's host. With respect to the birth, life, and sufferings of Jesus Christ, he enters into such minute details that he seems more like a historian narrating past occurrences, than a prophet announcing events seven hundred years before they come to pass. Q. What evils befell Manasses in punishment of his crimes ? A. His kingdom was invar'ed by the armies of Asarhaddon, king of Ass3/ria, and he himself was taken prisoner, loaded with chains, ani earried off to Babylon. '5 ^ <;- ■-if- ;ill III d ■m 124 MAOBXD HI8T0BT. if " ;- ' i) -ii"' •(,;< Q. What effect had these chastisements on Manasses? A. They wrung from him tears of repentance ; he deplored the evils of his reign, and begged that he might be enabled to evince the sincerity of his sorrow by being restored to a positioa for undoing all that he had previously done. His prayers were heard, and he was, accordingly, reinstated in his kingdom. Q. What did Manasses on reascending the throne ? A. He strenuously endeavored to extirpate idolatry and establish the worship of God in all its former purity and splendor. Q. What remarkable event took place about the 41st year of his reign ? A. The raising of the siege of BetLulia by a holy woman, named Judith. Ii NabuohodoQOsor I., son and successor of Asarhaddoo, haying undertaken to conquer all the kingdoms bordering on his en.pire, despatched Holophernes with a powerful army to subjugate the oountries lying west of Niuive, b' capital. This proud general swept like a torrent over the nrovirros that fell to his share. The inhabitants of the m ' t 'ii'striots, struck with the terror of his arms, hastily ^Dif i ui their submission; the Jews alone stood alooti SIXTH EPOCH. 125 ments od }eQtance ; i begged I sincerity positioQ i\j done, jordingly, ding the extirpate ^ God in ice about Lulia by sarhaddoD, 8 bordering a powerful Niuive, b' 3Dt over the ants of the rms, hastily stood aloofi H'l' and prepared to resist. Astonished at their audacity, Uulophernes inquired of the Ammoaites and Moabites who these people were. Achior, the leader of the Ammonites, acquainted him with their history, and added that as long as they would remain faithful to their Qod, no human force could vanquish them. This informatioa roused the wrath of the Assyrian, who immediately marched into Israel and laid siege to Bethulia. At the end of thirty-four days, the inhabitants were reduced to Buch distress that they determined to surrender if not relieved in five days. It was in this emergency that Judith, inspired from on high, formed the design of deliver- ing both the city and the nation from the tyranny of th« haughty Assyrian, B. C. 656. Q. How did she execute her design ? A. Having arrayed herself in rich attire, she proceeded to the camp of the Assyrian general, who, won by her graces, allotted her a separate tent, gave orders that she should be plentifully supplied with all that she might want, and granted her the liberty of going in and out the camp as often as she pleased. Q. How did she avail herself of this liberty ? A. Every night she went out into the vale of Bethulia, and prayed the Lord to give her strength for the execution of her design. Q. What occurred on the evening of the fourth day ? 126 BACRKD OIRTOST. A. IloIopUenics gave io honor of J uiilh a SQuiptuous entertainment to all the offioers of his army. When it was grown late, theoifioers retired and Holophernes, oppressed with sleep and wine, threw himself on his bed. Q. What did Judith at that moment ? A. With tears in her eyes, she besought the Lord to strengthen her feeble arm and to seoon d ker endeavors. She then advanced to the bed, unsheathed the sword of the proud Assyriao, and with two strokes severed his head from bis body. Q. What did Judith then do ? A. She gave the head of Holopherncs to her maid, who was outside the tent door ; and, leav- ing the oamp as usual, returned to the city where she was received with great demonstra- tions of joy by all the inhabitants. Q. What did the Bethulians as soon as day dawned ? A. They rushed upon the Assyrians, who, hearing that their general was slain, fled with precipitation, leaving an immense booty to the yiotors. RIXTI EPOOB. 127 Juiith t officers ()[' lieoifioens ritb sleep It? )ught the to seooD d the bed, Assyrian, f Voiii bifl les to her md, leuv- the city luonstra- ti as duy Qs, who, led with ty to tiie After this brilliant aohieTvnient, Judith hait«ned baok within the wallij of hor prirate oratory, as though sh* were a stranger to her own merit; and humbly retreatvd from the fa(M of her fellow-oitizens, as though she had dune nothing to deserve their praise. Q. How long did Man asses reign ? A. Fifty-five years ; this is the longest reign in Jewish history. Q. By whom was he succeeded ? A. By hi» son Amon, who, imitating the im- piety but not the repentance of his father, died by the hands of his own servants after a mis> arable reign of two years. Q. Who succeeded Amon ? A. His son, the celebrated Josias, one of the wisest and most virtuous of the kings of J u da. Q. What was the principal object of his cares ? A. To extirpate idolatry, and make the true religion flourish throughout his kingdom. Q. By whom was the country invaded during his reign ? A. By Nechao, king of Egypt, who defeated the Jews in a desperate battle fought at the foot of Mount Carmel, and in which Josias was mortally wounded, B. C. GIO. iill,, n 1" 128 SAORED HT8T0RT. if U t •4 If'. . f-' i. iiBini.' I 1 Q. Who succeeded Josias ? A. His son, Joachaz, whom Nechao dethroned after a reipjn of three months and replaced by Joakirn, his brother. Q. What great prophet flourished in the reign of Joakirn ? A. Jeremias, who threatened both king and people with the heaviest chastisements if they did not abandon their evil ways and appease the wrath of God by a sincere repentance. Q. What eflfect had these denunciations on the king ? A. They roused his displeasure to fiuch a degree that he seized the volume in which they were written, and cut it into little scraps which he threw into the fire. Q, What did Jeremias on hearing this ? A. By the command of God, he penned down the same prophecies in an other volume, and added new threats to the former. Q. When were these prophecies fulfilled ? A. Shortly afterwards, when Nabuchodono- 80r Il.y surnamed the Groat, laid siege to Je- rusalem. He took the city, made Joakini his mh SIXTH EPOCH. 129 vassal, and carried to Babjloa seyeral princes and other noble youths, amons; whom was the prophet Daniel, B. C. 606. Q. Did Joakiin long submit to this state of vassalage ? A. No ; three years had hardly elapsed before he rebelled against the king of Assyria ; but his forces were overthrown, and he himself fell into the hands of the Chaldeans from whom he re- ceived the just punishment of his crimes. Q. By whom was Joakim succeeded ? A. By his wicked son Jechonias, who, after a short reign of three months, was carried awaj with 10,000 of his subjects to Babylon. Q. Whom did Nabuchodonosor place on the throne ? A. Sedecias, the uncle of the late king, who rendered himself odious to the people by his licentiousness and impiety. Q. What did Sedecias in the ninth year of his reign ? A. He revolted against the king of Babylon, y^ho thereupon marched a powerful army into Jvirjori, fiTifi blocked him up in Jcrasalom. kH ^1'^ ^ m n ■ t i ■ I. so .SAOIttID HISTOKV. Q. What was the issue of the siege ? A. The city was crarried by storm after a brave resistance of three ycirs, B. C. 588. Q. What was the fate of Sedccias ? A. After having his oyes plucked out, he was loaded with chains and carried to Bibylon. Q. What befell the city and its inhabitants ? A. The walls were demolished, the temple was burned, and all the inhabitants, except those poor husbandmen who were necessary to till the land, were transplanted to Babylon. Q. WhiJt became of the ark of the covenant ? A. It was hidden by the prophet Jeremias in a cavern of Mount Nebo. Q. How long had the kingdom of Juda lasted ? A. It had lasted 387 years, during which it was governed by 20 sovereigns. Thus was the sceptre of Juda broken, and the country reduced to a lonely desert. The people wound no tnoro through the valleys, to go up and worship in the temple ; the hymn of praise no more awoke the echoes of Moria ; Jerusalem ia a vast solitude ; " her way's mourn because none oome to the solemn feast ; all her gates are brokf^o down; her priests sigh, her rirging are in affliction, and ihe ii oppreiiod with bittemesi," wl^U^ )^fr oi)U4rei| "lob orid cisrh by tho ri?9ri of Babylon," ererai-'is •ITKNTI r.POCH. 131 SEVENTH EPOCH, From the destruction of Jerv ilom, B. C. 538, to the reign of t'ol -cus. B- C. 187. Q. Whom did Nabuchodonosor appoint to govern Judea ? * A. Godolias, one of his officers, who wm jtiurdered in the midst of a banquet by a tur- ^uUnt man of the tribe of Juda, named Ismael. Q. What did the people, fearing the ven- geance of Nabuchodonosor ? A. Thy fled into Egypt notwithstanding the entreaties of Jeremias, who assured them that if they remained in the country no harm would befall them ; but that if they went into Egypt, they all should perish. Jeremias, either williDgly or by compulsion, accom* panied them ; j,nd it is believed that he was stoned to death at Taphnis by the ungrateful refugees, who had grown tired of his plaints and admonitions, B. C. 486, lj(j. How was this prediction fulfilled ? ^ A. Nabuohodonosor having sooa after dot olared war against the king of Egypt, iDvaded ^ I .. ! i\-v 132 SACRBD HISTORY. Mr I; after which he issued orders for the extennina- tion of the Jews who were in the country. Q. How were the Jews treated, who were carried into captivity ? Q. They were treated with great lenity hy the B ilylonian monarch, who permitted them to live according to their law, and gave them governors of their own nation. Q. Who were the most remarkable of the captive? ? A, The most remarkable of the captives were Daniel, Ananias, Azarias, Misael, Susanna, Ezechiel, Zorobabel, Esther, and Mardochai. Q. How were Daniel and his three compan- ions treated ? A. By the king's order, Daniel and his thi-co companions, Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, were chosen from among their fellow-captives to be instructed in the language and manners of the Chaldeans. Q. How did God reward them for their fi- delity to his service ? A. He endowed them with such extraordi- nary wisdom that the king confided to them ^jpf^p 9f ^b^ most important Q^m of his empire, ftBVRNTH EPOCH. I.'IS Q. How was tbcir fidelity tested ? A. Tlie B:iby Ionian nobles, becoming ex- tremely jejlous of the confidence which the king placed in the young strangers, resolved upon their destruction. To effect their wicked purpose, they counseled Nabuchodonosor to condemn to the flimes all who would not pay divine honors to his statue, knowing full well t'.iat the virtuous youths would never stoop to such an act of impiety. Q. What was the result ? A. The king, incensed at their refusal, ordered ilicm to be bound and cast into a fiery furnace ; but the Lord, ever mindful of his faithful serv- ants, sent at that moment an angel, who struck off their bonds and fanned thorn with a refresh- ing breeze as he walked to and fro with them amidst the surroundiijg flames. Q. How was Daniel's fidelity put to the test ? A. Having constantly refused to participate in the idolatrous worship of the Babylonians, he was cast into a lion's den. The king hear- ing that no harm had befallen the holy prophet, caused his enemies to be cast in to the wild beasts which iostautly devoured them. '%^H :i4 ill 'I i; ill! M ji •':'"!■■■ >34 SCORED HISTORY. f /f « ,ii Q. What greatly contributed to increase DanieFs fame at court ? A. The interpretation of a dream which Nabuchodonosor had, and by which God made known to the vain-glorious monarch that, in punishment of his pride, ho would be driven from the society of men and compelled to hold companionship with the beasts of the field for seven years. Q. What other famous interpretation did Daniel give ? A. He interpreted to Baltassar the meaning of the three mysterious words, that had been written by a miraculous hand on the wall during a banquet which that prince gave to all his courtiers. These three words were : Mane, that is number ; Throbl, weight; Phases, division. They signiOed, according to Daniel's interpretation, that the Babylonian monarchy was at an end, having now completed the number of its days, being weighed in the scale of divine justice, and divided between the Medes and Persians. This alarming propbee was fulfilled that very night. Two detachments of Cyrus's troops entered the city, and surprised the king whom they put to the sword with all his attendants. The sudden stroke that carried off Baltassar at the hour h« Itast txp«et«d, ought to be a warning to all thoit m§ BvmrrB ifooh. 135 increase OkrutiMis whose einfal ezoesees and impenitent liree ex- pose them to the daily risk of being sarprised by an an- timelf death, and hurried before the bar of divine justice. Q. What remarkable woman was among the captives ? A. SusaDna, a Jewess of uncommon beauty, who had been brought up by her parents in the fear oi God and in the love of virtue. Two^ infamous old men who dispensed justice at the hooeeof Jeakim, Susanna's husband, coneeiving aorim- iaal passioaibr her* printed of a moment when she was aloae to^eo&kst her eoneent, threftteoang her at the same time with an ignomimous death in oaee of refusal. Su- sanna, stroek with hornw^ cried oat with aU the heroism that virtue alone ean insjure : " I see evils on every side ; if I do that whioh yeut wi^, I kill my soul ; if I refuse, you will make me perish; btU I prefer falling innoeemt into your hanek to rendering n^yeelf guiUj/ before God «oAe sees me," As she was led ont to execution, Daniel, an- imated by the spirit of God, convicted of foul calumny her two accusers who instantly received the puniirtiment of their odious crime by being condemned to suffer the death' to which they had doomed the chaste Susanna, B. G. 603. Q. Who was Ezechiel ? A. Gzechiel was the third of the four greal prophets ; he prophesied during twenty years, and was slain by a prince of his own nation whom he had reproved for his idolatry. Q. How long did the captivity last ? f v"^. '■i ' :■ M ■ 1 1 i V' ' ] ; ■■■(' i !. IM 8A0BBD HISTORY. A. Seventy years, at the end of which CyruSy K/ho had then ascended the throne oi' Persia, published an edict permitting the Jews to return to their country and rebuild the temple. Q. Did all the Jews avail themselves of tbis permission ? A. No ; a great number permanently estab- lished themselves in the different provinces of the Persian empire. Q. Who conducted the captives back to Judea? A. Zorobabel, a prince of the family of David. Q. What was the number of the captives that returned? A. About forty-two thousand. Q. What was the first undertaking of the Jews after their return ? A. The rebuilding of the temple, which they carried on notwithstanding the continued opposi- tion of their enemies. It was finally completed, and dedicated with great solemnity, B. C. 515. Q. How did the Jews act after their return ? A. Reltased from the captivity of Babylon, SEVENTH EPOCH. 137 they renonnced for ever the idolatry that had drawn down upon them so terrible a chas- tisement. Q. What befell the Jews that remained in the Persian provinces ? ^ A. They were grievously persecuted by a wicked courtier, named Aman. Aman, inflated with pride on account of the unbounded confidence that his royal master placed in him, under- took to haye himself worshiped ; but Mardochai who was a Jew, refused lo him — a mortal man — that honor which was due to God alone. Irritated at his refusal, Aman frauduleotly obtained from the king an edict which con- demned to death not only Mardochai but all the Jews dispersed throughout the provinces of the Persia* anpirc. Q. By whom were the Jews delivered from the tyranny of Aman ? A. By Esther, the niece of Mardochai, whom the king had espoused on account of her beauty and great accomplishments. Q. What was the fate of Aman ? A. He was hanged on the same gibbe*, that he had prepared for Mardochai. Q, Who was Nehemias ? A. Nehemias was a virtuous Israelite, wht rU t' nil II il ii\ m lit ,' ■i*- m i T38 SACRBD HISTORY. obtained from Artaxorxcs nn edict authorizing him to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. The Samaritans and other enemies of the Jewish nation, viewing this undertaking with jealousy, combined together to stop its progress. Nehemias, in order to repel their at. tacks, armed one-half of the young men with spears, shields, and bows; while the other half, holding their swords in one hand, carried on their work with the other. By their perseverance and industry on which the Almighty be- stowed a blessing, the wi.lls were rebuilt in the space of fifty -two days, an ' *ii . ?m was again girded round with ramparts, B. C. -li. Q. What great conqueror made his entry into Jerusalem, B. C. r32 V A. Alexander the Great, son and successor of Philip, king of Maoedon. Q. For what purpose did he proceed to Jerusalem ? A. He marched thither with the design of delivering it up to be plundered by his soldiers, because the inhabitants had refused to supply his army with provisions during the siege of Tyre. Q. Did Alexander execute his design ? A. No; at the sight of Jaddus, who, dressed in his pontifical robes, advanced to meet him, the heart of the mighty conqueror was so changed ■ i fti!^ horizlnsj ish nation, d together 1 their at- :h spears, leir swords . By their lighty be- ) space of led round is entry uccessor )ceed to esign of soldiers, ipplyhis of Tyre. n? dressed him, the changed EIOHT^ EPOCH. 139 that he becfged the high-priest to accompany him to the temple, in order to oflTer up a sacrifice for the success of his arras. The high'priest showed his royal ^est the prophecies of Daniel, which declared that the Persian empire would be overthrown by a king of Greece. Alexander, filled with joy and admiration, granted the Jews all the favors that they asked, and from that time nerer oeaged to protect them. Q. How was the empire of Alexander divided after his death ? A. It was divided among four royal gov- ernors. In this partition, Syria and Judea fell to the lot of Seleucus. EIGHTH EPOCH, Prom the reign of Seleucus Philopator B. C. 187, to the birth of Jesus Christ. Q. Did Judea enjoy peace under the kings of Syria? A. It enjoyed comparative tranquillity until the reign of Seleucus Philopator, who, having been informed by a wicked man, ni^med Simon, 1, i h i ''i'i i ■ml i f 'M ^M III 140 flACRRP HIBTORY. B'i* r.ijf n m. that immense sums of money were deposfted in the treasury of the temple, despatched Holio- dorus, his commissary, to seize them. Q. Did Heliodorus succeed in obtaining the treasure ? A. No ; as he entered the temple, he was checked by a superbly dressed horseman who trampled on him, whilst two angels in the form of comely youths scourired him with rods. Q. How were the Jews treated by Antiochus Epiphanes ? A. In a very cruel manner. This odious prince, on mere suspicion, marched an aruiy to Jerusalem, and, after capturing the city, butch- ered 80,000 of its inhabitants without distinc- tion of age or mx, took 40,000 prisoners, and sold as many more as slaves to the neighboring nations, B. C. 168. Q. Who were the most illustrious victims of his cruelty ? A. The saintly old man Eleazar, who pre- ferred to forfeit his life rather than feisjn to eat forbidden meats; and the seven brothers Machiibecs, who displayed an admirable forti- tude in the midst of their cruel torments. EICmrH E/OCH. 141 The friends of Eleazar, haviDg substituted perortitted riauds, pressed him to partake thereof that he might save bi> life by seeming to comply with the king's orders ; but the saintly old man courageously replied : ** Such dissim^ Illation becomes not these grey hairs. God forbid that 1 pbould ever sully the purity of my former life by such a Btaiii, and thereby give occasion for young men to imagine that Kleazar, at the age of four score and ton, has re- nounced the religion of his forefathers, and consented to \he superstition of the pagans. Miserable, indeed, should I Ijo if the poor remains of declining life could tempt me to prevaricate in so shameful a manner ; for though I were to escape the judgments of men for the present, yet neither alive nor dead bhail I escape the hand of the Almighty." Having thus spoken, he was led to execution, and, by a glorious death, has left to all succeeding ages an example of the most heroic fortitude and constancy, B. C. 167. A much severer conflict awaited the young Machabee*. Antiochus himself presided at their martyrdom ; and, enraged to see such constancy in an age so tender, he strained every nerve to terrify and torture them into compliance with his impious demands. Their tongues wore cut out, and the extremities of their hands and feet amputated; the skin of their heads was torn off, and they were broiled in a caldron, — but all in vain. Animated by the exhortations of their virtuous mother, who soon followed them in their victorious career they remained faithful to the last, B. C. 167. Q. How were the Jews delivered from the t^anny of Antiochus ? ,\, By tho vii?]\}ey^menU of MathathiM a^cl m -I m m mM Vl 142 8A0RED HISTORY. 4 his five heroic sons, who resolved to vindicate the honor of their religion and the cause of their country by an appeal to arms, B. C. 167 Q. What is said of the success of Judas Machabeus ? A. Thouo^h he had under his command but a very small force, he boldly attacked the armies that the king of Syria successively sent against hira,and vanquished them in many engagements. fn one encounter, with 10,000 troops, he routed Lysiae, the Syrian general, who had 60,000 foot and 6,000 hone. Ly^ias soon returned to the contest with an overwhelming force of i 00,000 men. The Jews, struck with fear, earnestly invoked the divine assistance. Their prayer was heard. As they marched out to meet the enemy, they saw a horse- man going before them, in white clothing, with golden armor, and shaking a spear. Encouraged by this vision, they rushed upon the Syrians with such lion-like courage that they slew 12,600, wounded a great many others, and cumpcUcd Lysias to betake himself to a shameful flight. One of the most astonishing campaigns of this valiant general was th U against Timotheug, who had under his standard 120,000 infantry and 2,j500 cavalry. With only 6,000 warriors, Judas t^^arlessly attacked him, put 30,000 of his tToo\)» to the sword, dispersed the rest, and, returning without loss of time, besieged and stormed two fortreiiei tt)4t wore still In the budi of the e&emy ipd \^ wM^ Ml f^daUional foron of 60)000 WM 4iilrQ7«4« wm\ EIGHTH EFOOH. I4S Q. How did Judas Machabeus terminate his eventful career ? A. He was slain in a desperate battle, fought against an overwhelming Syrian force com- manded by Bacchides. His little troop consisted of 800 men while the enomy were 22,400 strong. Notwithstanding the great disparity of numbers, he obstinately disputed the battle from morning till night, when, at last, he succeeded in break- ing the enemy's right wing. Following up his success, he vigorously pursued the fugitives j but the other wing, by a prompt manoeuvre, hemmed him in and thus over- powered by numbers, he fell a martyr to the glorious cause he had so long and so valiantly defended, B. C. 161. Q. Who succeeded Judas Machabeus in the command of the Jewish army ? A. His brother Jonathan, who avenged his untimely fall and compelled the Syrians tq evacuate the country. Q. By whom was Jonathan succeeded? A. By Simon, the fifth and last of the heroic sons of Mathathias. '' Q. Who were the most distinguished oi Simon's successors ? A, John Hyrounus, who exorcised the lu* pr«m9 authority during thirty yean ; ant] n ■# 144 SAORKD BISTORT. AristobuluB IT., who dethroned his brother and implored the aid of the Romans against him. Having afterwards refused to submit to the decision of Pompey, the Roman general, he was taken prisoner and brought to Pome, to grace the triumph of his conqueror. Q. Who was the first foreigner that swayed the sceptre cf Judea ? A. Herod, an Idumean by birth who obtained from the Roman senate a decree con- ferring on him the title of king of Judea^B. C. 40. Q. What great event occurred during Herod^s reign ? A. The birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, which took place on the 25th of Becemberi 4004 years i^ter the creation of the woicld. rother and inst him. it to the meral^ he Pome, to th who cree con- jB.C.40. g Herod's s Christ, ^ecemhefi oaekL THE NEW TESTAMENT. — u~ Q. LD what state was the world at the coming f the Messiah ? A. The world enjoyed a universal peace under its Roman masters ; and all the nations of the earth, except the Jews, were buried in the darkest idolatry. Q. Was there not at that time a general expectation of the coming of some great per- sonage '^ A. T ; pagan writers state that a report was then current among the nations that a sovereign would come forth from the east, who should subject the world to his sway. Q. Who was this great sovereign ? A. The Messiah, who had been promised to the patriarchs and foretold by the prophets. Q. Who was chosen to be the Mother of the Messiah ? A. A holy virgin of the tribe of Juda, named Hary. ^4 )(ii r: 1%' !|i' r4C SACRED HISTORr. m m ^^.ii Q. Who announced to tha Blessed Virgiw this ineffable aoystcry ? A. The h/igel Gabriel, who, five hundred years before, had foretold to Daniel the precise time for the coming of the Messiah. Q. How did the angel salute the Blessed Virgin ? A. He said : ** Hail, full of grace the Lord i? with thee, blessed ait thou among women." Q. In what words did the Blessed Virgin xpress her consent ? A. She expressed her consent to the great mystery of the incarnation in these simple words : " Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it (lone unto me, according to thy word." Q' What took place at that moment ? A. The Son of God, the second person of the Most Holy Trinity, descended .f!T\3rn Heaven and became incarnate in her virginal womb. The angel at the «ame time informed th^ Blessed Virgin that her cousin, St. Eiijsaheth, then far Klviuiccd in year,", was miraculously pregnant. On hearing this, she went with h.i8to across the mountainous dlsuicts of Judea, to con- gratulate her upon this happy event. He sooner bad Eliz* beth heard the Yir^»n*M Yoioe than her unborn infvi HE NEW TBSTAMBNT. the futnre Bnptiflt, leaped for joy within her w and she, inspired by the [ioly Ghost, exclaimed : " Bleb, art thou among women, and blessed is the Irnit of thy womb Mary responded by the sublime words of the Magnijico', which may Justly be styled the eulogy of the humble and the ooofusion of the proud. She remained with her cousin about three monthly till the Baptist was born and circumcised, after which she returned to her own modest dwelling. Q. Where did the Blessed Virgin reside ? A. At Nazareth, a town of Galilee. Q. Where was the Savior of the world bom ? A. At Bethlehem, a small town of the tribe of Juda. Q. How did it happen that the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph were then at Bethlehem ? A. They repaired thither in obedience to an edict of the emperor Augustus, which com- manded every one to be enrolled in the city of his anc3stors. As Mary and Joseph were lin- eal descendants of David, they, accordingly, went to Bethlehem. Q. To what place did they retire on arriving hi Bethlehem ? •* A. As all the inns were full, they withdrew a stable situated on the outskirts of th [III i 'It j •i 1 I' s f If Jl w ^iU 1 148 SACRED BISTORT. v' ;?£ town. Tbere they sought a shelter from the in- clemency of the season, and there on the twenty- fifth of December when the night was in the middle of its courpe, the Immaculate Virgin brought forth her divine Son, wrapped Him up in swaddling-clothes, and laid Him in a manger. Q. To whom was the birth of the Messiah first made known ? A. To some shepherds, who were tending their flocks on the plains of Bethlehem. Q. What did they hear at the same time ? A. They heard a choir of angels, singing : " Glory to God on high, and peace on earth to men of good-will." Q. What did they on hearing this ? A. They passed over to Bethlehem ; and, having found the divine Infant, knelt down and adored Him. Q. When was the divine Child circumcised ? A. On the eighth day after His birth. It was then that He received the adorable name of Jesus. Q. By whom was our Lord adored twelve days after His birth ? TBI NEW TESTAKBVT. Mi A. By three wise men, called Magi, who, guided by a miraculons star, came irom the east to worship the new-born king of the Jews. According to tradition, the Magi were kings and three in number. Their names are; Melchior, Qaspar* and Baltassar. Q. What happened when the Magi reached Jerusalem ? A. The star disappeared ; and thej, thinking their journey at an end, inquired about the new-born king, saying: "Where is He that is born king of the Jews, for we have seen His star in the east, and are come to adore Him/* Q. What did Herod on hearing this startling news? A. He assembled the doctors of the nation, and inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They answered, '' In Bethlehem of Juda." Q. What did Herod on receiving this answer? A. He dismissed the wise men after urgently recommending them to return as soon as they had found the Child, that he too might go aad adore Him. ■. * f fh II 1 '. ifl "hi 160 8A0BBD HI8TOBT. ■II' m ■I .1 •1 *: Q. What happened as the Magi went o«tef Jerusalem ? A. The miraculous star rfeappeared, and went before them till it stood over the place where the divine Infant lay. Having found Him whose star they had seen in the east, they prostrated themselves and adored Him, after which they opened their treasures and offered Him gold as to a king, frankincense as to a God> and myrrh as to a mortal man. The gold of the Christian, is charity ; hia frankincense, prayer ; and his myrrh, mortification. Q. Did the Magi return to Herod ? A. No; having been admonished by an angel not to return to Jerusalem, they proceeded to their own country by an other way. Q. What did Herod, seeing that they did not return ? A. He ordered a general massacre of all the male children in and around Bethlehem of two years and under, hoping thus to ensure the destruction of the infant King. 01 Q. How did the divine Child escape ? A. An angel appeared to St. Joseph in his sleep and bade him rise, take the Infant and Hifi Mother, and flee into EgypW ^wm THB NEW TESTAMENT. 161 t 9«tof dy and le place in in the im, after lim gold A as to a IdDceuge, by an ceeded ev did all the of two re the » in his It and Af'er a painful journey of about 420 miles, principally through an arid desert, the holy fugitires reached llcilio- polis, which was now truly to be tJie city of the ntn. As they entered the gates of the time-honored city, tradition says that an old majestic tree which had been the object of a superstitious worship, bowed down its shady branches, while all the idols of a neighboring temple fell from their bases and were broken into fragments. Q. How long did the holy family dwell in Egypt ? A. About seven years, after whioh they returned to Nazareth. Q. What did our Lord when twelve years old ? A. He went up to Jerusalem, to celebrate the feast of the Pasch. When the festival was over, He remained behind in the city whilst His parents, believing Him to be with their kin^olks, quietly proceeded homewa.'ds. Q. What did the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph when they perceived that Jesus was not in their company ? A. Greatly alEicted at their loss, they re- turned to Jerusalem and diligently sought their diviue Son. On the third day, they found Him in the temple conversing with the doctors whom He greatly abtonished by the wisdom of His words. i I •Vj • .'.I ^■1 ' if ■ (! ! ili m yii\ Id2 SAOMED BISTORT. ;f" ' :|\l'^" ■k i! % m The k>B8 (^ Jesus was the third and greatest of ta« a dolors of the Most Blessed Virgin. Q. What did our Lord when He left the temple ? A. He returned with His parents to Naz- areth, and was subject to them, Q. What did He when thirty years of age ? A. He came to the river Jordan, and was baptized by St. John the Baptirt. St. Joseph is supposed to have died shortly before our Lord's baptism, at the age of about sixty years. Q. What happened at the moment of His baptism ? A. The Holy Ghost descended on Him in the form of a dove, and a voice from Heaven was heard, saying : ** This is My beloved kSon in whom I am well pleased." Q. Whither did our Lord go after His baptism ? A. He retired into the wilderness, and there spt^nt in prayer and fasting forty days and forty nights, after which He was tempted by the devil. The devil craftily addressed hiniscli toour Lord, saying : ** If Thou art the Son ot Ood, command that these stones na^ be made bread." " Mot by bread alone doth man \ I. 'tfio OOVlMi left the to Naz- of age ? md was )efore our of His lim in Heaven ed Son er His d there d forty e devil. saying : ?e stODcs oth luao TBB VBW TMTAmnfT. las liye," answered our Lord, " b«t by vnrj word that pro- ceedeth from the mouth of God." The deril then con'- veyed Him up to one of the pinnftoles of the temple, mod said to Him : « If Thou art the Son of Qod, oast Thyself down ; for it is written, < He hath giren HiB aageLi eharge over Thee, and in their hands they shall bear Thee up, lest Thou hurt Thy foot against a stone.' " Jeeue answer- ed : *' It is written again, * Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.'" The tempter, undismayed by this double failure, then transported our Lord to the sammit of a high mountain,* e^iiled Quarentana, whence he showed Him all the kfngdoms of the earth, adding: « All these will I give Thee if Thou wilt fall down and worship me. " Our Savior repelled this third and last temptation by an other passage from Scripture : " Begone Satan, for it is written, < The Lord thy God shalt thou worship, and Hbn only shalt thou serve.' " Satan, who ignored that He whom he was tempting was the Son of God, departed at that instant, and angels came and ministered unto our Lord. Q. What did our Lord after leaving the wilderness ? A. He returned to the Jordan, and chose His first disciples : Andrew, Peter, James, and John. Q. Whither did our Lord go with His dis- ciples ? A. To Cana in Galilee, where, at the request ol His blessed Mothefj, He changed water into wine- ;:i;i' 'H f ■ i %f il ■" rj tS *0« •AOBED HIBTORT. mi. 'ft; '.* il» Q. How may the public life of our Lord Vo divided ? A. Into three parts : the first of miracles, to prove His divine mission ; the second ol parables, to inculcate virtue ; and the third oi suffering, to atone for sin. ' Q. What was our Lord's principal place of residence during His public life ? A. Caphamaum, a city situated on the western borders of Lake Genesareth. Q. What miracles did our Lord perform at Oaphamaum ? A. He delivered St. Peter's mother-in-law of a violent fever, and healed a centurion's servant. Q. What did the centurion say when he saw our Lord coming towards his house ? A. He exclaimed : " Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter under my roof; only say the word, and my servant shall be healed." Q. What remarkable person of Capharnaum became a follower of our Lord ? A. A publican, named Levi, who afterwards became the apostle and evangelist St. Matthew. «f V THE WW TBSi'AMEirr. 156 r Lord Vo * miracle?^, second ol e third ol place of d on the erform at her-in-law enturion's en he saw lot worthy oof; only e healed." pharnaum ifterwards Matthew. Q. How mnny apostles did our Lord choose ? A. lie chose twelve ; namely, Simon siir- nnnicd Peter, Andrew his brother, James the Tiroatcr, John his brother, Philip, Bartholomew, Thonins, Matthew, James the Less, Jude his brother, Simon surnamed Zolotes, and Judas Iscaiiot. St. Jamos, the son of Zebedeo, is called the Greater to distinguish him from the ot!ier apostle of the same name, who was suruamed the Less, because he was lower in stature or, more probably, because he was younger. Judas received his surname from lecariot, a small town of the tribe of Ephraim. Q. Who was the chief of the apostles ? A. Simon, who received from our Lord the surname of Peter. The Scripture aflfords several other instances of a change of names, when the recipient was invested with some new function or character. Thus, the name of " the father of the faithful " was changed from Abram to Abraham ; that of the father of the twelve patriarchs, from Jacob to Isroel j and that ol'the first evangelist, from Levi to Matthew. In like manner, since the ninth century, the Popes have changed their names on ascending the pontifical throne, — none, however, have assumed that of Peter, through respect for the sainted founder of the Holy See. Q. What remarkable words did our Lord Ray to him at the same time ? ^H <-r Xa FT^ 156 8A0R1D RTSTORT. 1^ \ i^h ■i'H A. Thou art Peter and upon this rock I shall build My Churdi, and the gates of hell shall not prevail t^Inst it. And T shall give thee the keys of the kingdom of Heaven, what- soever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven. Q. What injunction did our Lord make to St. Peter on a subsequent occasion ? A. Our Lord charged him to govern the pastors and faithful of His Church, by these words^*, " Feed my lambs, feed my sheep." Q. What other remarkable words did our Lord address to Simon Peter ? A. '* Simon, Simon," said our Lord, " behold Satan hath desired to have thee that he may sift thee as wheat ; but I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not, and thou being once converted confirm thy brethren." Thus we are assured by the very words of our divine Lord of not only the incrrability of the aggregate body of the pastors of the Church, but also of the infallibility of its supreme head, the Roman PontiGf. Hence, the decisions emanating from thut perenoial source of truth, are to be Moeptsd with docility and believed with undoubting faith. THE NEW TESTAMENT. 167 Q. What mission did our Lord give His apostles ? A. He bade them go and preach " to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Q. Did not our Lord select others among His followers besides the apostles ? A. Yes; He chose seventy-two disciples, whom He sent " two by two into every place whither He Himself was to come." Q. How did our Lord give His disciples a lesson of humility ? A. He took a little child, and said to them : " Unless ye become as little children, ye shall Dot enter into the kingdom of Heaven." It is believed that this child was Ignatius, the sainted Bishop of Antioch, who afterwards suffered so glorious a martyrdom under the emperor Trajan, A. D. 107. Q. What did our Lord after having chosen His apostles ? A. He addressed to them and to a vast umltitude that had gathered round, the admi- rable discourse, called the Sermon on the mount, Q. What may be considered as the abridge ment of ihiB disoourse ? ;.'^ili m i«;|!i ; m 158 8A0RID BTSTORT. \ 'AW ai! If A. The eijrht beatitudes. Q. Say the eight beatitudes. A. 1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for tlioirs is the kingdom of Heaven. 2. Blessed are the meek for they shall possess the land. .3. BlcFScd are they trho mourn, for they shall be comforted. 4. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst aCtcr justice, for they shall be filled. 5. Blessed arc the merciful for they shall obtain mercy. 6. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God. 7. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. 8. Blessed are they who snftor persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. Q. By whom was our Lord met as He de- scended the mountain ? A. By a leper, who adored Him, sayinc:: ** Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make lue clean." Moved by the simplicity of the prayer 4 THE MEW TISTAMBNT. 159 ipirit, for ill possess for they nd thirst ley shall for they for they rsecution gdom of He dc- sayinjr ^ lake lue le prayer and the fdith of the suppliant, our Lord stretched forth His hand and touched the leper, sjiying, '* Be thou made clean." Q. How many persons did our Lord raise to life? A. Three ; namely, the daughter of Jairus ; the son of a widow of Nairn ; and Lazarus, a wealthy inhabitant of Bethany. Q. What circumstances accompanied the resurrection of the daughter of Jairus ? A. Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, having entreated our Lord to come and lay His hands upon his deceased daughter, He repaired thith- er, bade the multitude of mourners r ire, and, taking the maiden by the hand, rr^sstored her to life. Q. What circumstances accompanied the resurrection of the widow's son ? A. Near the city of Nairn, our Lord met a concourse of people bearing to the grave the only son of a poor disconsolate widow. Touched with compassion at her distress, our Lord ap- pr< ached the bier, and said : " Young man, I iy totho', arise." Awakened as it were by fi| r |y| •ij't ''■^' n h\ a ■yifm 160 8A0BKD ElflTORY. this powerful call, the youDg man instantly arose, and began to speak. Q. How was Lazarus raised to life ? A. Having come to Bethany, our Lord re- paired to the grave in which Lazarus had been buried since four days. He then addressed a short but fervent prayer to His heavenly Father, and cried aloud, " Lazarus, come forth." Ijb is believed that Lazarus and his two sisters, Mary Magdalen and Martha, quitted Judea after the death of llieir divine Master, and kindled the light of faith in the ioathem part of France, and that Lazarus became the first bishop of Marseilles. Q. What effect ha^ these miracles ? A. They excited the jealousy of the Pharisees and the hatred of the synagogue. Q. Whither did our Lord retire from the violence of His enemies ? A. He retired into the desert, where He fed five thousand persons with five barley loaves and two little fishes. After this miraculous multiplication, the grateful people sought to make Jesus their king ; but our blessed Savior, who came to teach His followers not to seek, much less to Intrude themselves into worldly dignities and honors, oon- •Mled fiimfeif on a B«ighboring mountain. When it wal THk NEW TESTAMENT. 16; nstantly Lord re- lad been ressed a Father, i." •' )rs, Mary i death of 1th in the oame the liarisees 'om the He fed loaves ful people 3d Savior, loh less to norSyCon- len itwal gprown dark, the multitude dispersed and the disciples descended to the sea-shore, in order to sail over to Bcth- saida. As soon as they had put to sea, a furious storm rose, and the little bark was violently tossed by the foam- ing waves. About day-break, Jesus advanced on the sui-face of the deep towards His helpless apostles. Terri- ^ed at the spectacle, they screamed aloud with fright, whilst Jesus, to allay their fears, mildly said : ** Fear not, it is I." Peter immediately recognised his Master's voice, and confidently answered: *' Lord, if it is Thou, bid me come to Thee upon the waters.'' To the great aston- ishment of his follow -apostles, Peter walked on the billowy deep as steadily as on firm ground ; but, growing appalled by the dangers that surrounded him, he lost courage and began to sink, whereupon he cried out, ** Lord, save me." Jesus stretched forth His hand to him, saying, ** Thou man of little faith, why dost thou doubt ? " Then enter- ing tL) bark, the wind fell and the boatmen rowed ashore. Q. How did our Lord convey His instruc- tions to the people ? A. Chiefly by parables. Q. Which are the principal parables? A. They are the parables of the prodigal Bon, the good Samaritan, the rich glutton, the talents, the ten virgins, the workmen of the vineyard, and the good shepherd. Q. What effect had the instructioqg and miraoldi of our Lord on thd people 7 Af W p^opU fori i^v9k wit)^ i4i«ir^tioit i 1. -M 1 4 J^-'i m i ■■,' 162 SACKED HISTOBT. I 'i some thouirht that He was John the Bapcif^t, risen from the dead ; others, that He wusEJias; and others aii;ain, that He was Jeremias or one of the prophets. Q. What was the reply of St. Peter when our Lord asked His apostles who they thought He was ? A. He replied with unhesitating: faith, " Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.** Q. What did our Lord then say to St. Peter ? A. He said to him : " Blessed art thou Simon, because flesh and blood have not reveal- ed it to thee, but My Father, who is in Heaven.*' It was on this oooasion that our Lord said to him « Thou art Peter, aad on this rock I shall build My Church," &c>. Q. By what great event did our Lord confirm the faith of His apostles ? A. By His transfiguration. Q. How did this take place ? A. Taking with Him three of His apostles, Peter, James, and John, He ascended a high and isolated mount, called Tabor. Havinsr reached the summit, He prostrated Himself and oommoaodd to pray ; and ai He prayed. THK NEW TESTAMENT. 163 Bapdst, isEliiis; s or one r when thought " Thou Peter ? rt thou . reveal- eaven." to him uild My confirm postleg, a high Livinsr liiuself )rayed| His face ehone with resplendent brightness and His garments became white as snow. iMoses and Elias appeared at the same time, discoursing with Him on His approaching passion and death in Jerusalem. Three apostles were particularly dear to tlie Heart of our Lord : St. Peter, the ^'^undation-stone of the Church ; St James, the first member of the apostolic college to seal his faith by martyrdom; and St. John, the virgin apostle, the beloved disciple to whose pioui care the dying Savior confided His blessed Mother. Q. What did St. Peter say in a transport of joy? A. Transported with joy, he cried out : ** Lord, it is good for us lo be here ; if Thou wilt, let us make here three tents, one for Thee, one for Moses, and one for Elias." Q. What happened while St. Peter was yet speaking ? A. A bright cloud overshadowed our Lord and His two heavenly companions, and a voice v.as Ticard, sayinir : *' This la My beloved SoOi iu whom I am well pleased; hear ye Hid." Q. What did the apostles 00 bearing tbif iiiirac'uJuub voice? r H 11 m I ,11 164 SACRED HISTORY. ^. i'i A. They fell prostrate on the grouna, and remained in that attitude till Jesus bade them rise and dispel their fears. Q. What did our Lord shortly after His transfiguration ? A. He set out with His apostles for Jeru- salem, to celebrate the feast of the Tabernacles. Q. What miraculous cure did He perform on the way ? A. He healed ten lepers, who, seeing Him pass by, stood far off and cried out : " Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.'* Our Lord pitying their condition, bade them go and show them- selves to the priests, and as they went they were suddenly delivered from their leprosy. Q. Were they all grateful for their cure ? A. No ; only one of them returned to thank his Benefactor. The nine ungrateful lepers, undoubtedly, admired the goodDess of Jesus Christ and rejoiced at their cure ; but they returned no public thanks, they showed no exterior signs of a grateful heart. Their memory is, therefore, justly branded with infamyi that Christians may thence l( nOilYt ft Juit horror of logratitudo wbiob rendori tl^it^ (HipliiiiBI to 004 u4 ^\m to tbiir (f llow-mii^t ^^^im} THE NEW TESfAniENT. 16« ^S Q. How did our Lord enter Jerusalem a few, days before the Pasch ? A. He entered riding on an ass, and was met by a great multitude who went out to greet Him ; some strew the way with their garments, others cut down green branches from the trees, and all with one voice cried out: ** Hosanna to the Son of David, blessed is He that comcth in the name of the Lord, hosanna in the highest." Q. Whither did our Lord proceed after entering Jerusalem ? A. He proceeded to the temple, which He found crowded with the tables of money-changers and the stalls of dove-sellers. Q. What did our Lord seeing this profana- tion ? A. Moved with zeal for His Father's honor, He made a scourge of little cords, overtu^'ned the tables, and drove the buyers and sellers away, telling them that *' the house of God is a house of prayer and not a den of thieves." St. Jerome considers this as one of the greatest mira<;Ies performed by our blessed Lord. Q. Were not the enemies of our Lord irri- tated by His triumphant entry into Jerusalem ? *: fill l! \m I f' 166 SACRED nrSTOUT. in- ' :ii II ! I '■■^ ri A. Yes, tlicir jealous hatred was so increased by this manifestation of popular feeling towards our Lord that they resolved to put Hira to death. Q. By what means did they succeed in their wicked design ? A. By the treason of Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve apostles, who offeredtodeliver up His divine Master for thirty pieces of silver. Tbi6 was tho price of a slave, and is estimated at eighteen dullars. Q. What did our Lord in the meantime? A. He sent two of n is disciples to prepare the Paschal supper in a large dining-room. Q. What act of humility did our Lord per- form at His last supper ? A. He rose from table, and after girding Himself with a towel and pouring water into a basin, began to wash the feet of His apostles. Q. By what was this followed ? A. The washing of the feet was followed by the institution of the Blessed Eucharist, Q. How did ourliord institute the Blessed Euchfirist ? THE NEW TESTAMENT. 167 A. He took bread and blessed it, alter which He gavi it to His apostles, saying : *' Take ye and eat for this is My body." Taking the wine, He blessed it and gave it them, saying ; *' Drink ye all of this for this is My blood of the New Te.stament, which shall be shed for many unto the remission of sina.'* The seven riacrtMnentfl ot* the ^ew Law, were all insti- tuted by our blessed Lord Himself. Thus, the Hoty Eu- chiV'Ut was instituted at His last supper j Baptimn, when lie charged His apostles to *< Go and teach all nations, bap- tizing them in the name of the Father and of the iSon and ot the Holy Ghost ; " and Pennnce, when He said to them, «' Whose sins ye shall forgive they are forgiven and whose sins ye shall retain they are retained." As the Gospel does not make explicit mention of the institution of the other four Sacraments, it is believed that they were established during the forty days our Lord spent on earth after His resurrection. Q. What did our Lord after instituting the Blessed Eucharist 'i A. He exhorted His apostles to love one an other as He Himself had loved them ; He also told them that His hour was now come, and t.iat before the night had passed away they would all have forsaken Him. Q. How did St. Peter protest his fidelity ? I ill r ■ ■: I M I M. iliiiL -■■'» I 168 SACRED BISTORT. I. %■ A. With his usual ardor and confidence, he affirmed that he would never abandon Hiiu, and that he was ready to accompany Him to prison and even to death itsell'. Q. What answer did our Lord make to this protestation of St. Peter ? A. He said : ^* Truly, I say to thee that before the cock crows thou wilt deny Me thrice." Q. Whither did our Lord go after leaving the supper-room? A. He went with His eleven apostles to the Mount of Olives. Q. What did He when He had come to tke garden of Gethsemani ? A. He took with Him Peter, James, and John and proceeded a little further ; then rec- ommending them to watch and pray, He retired to a lonely grotto. Q. What occurred as He prayed ? A. He entered into so great an agony that drops of blood gushed through the pores of His sacred body, and trickled down to the ground. Q. How did He pray to His Father ? A. He said : *^ My Father, if it be possible, Iff THE NEW TESTAMENT. 169 let this cup pass away from Me ; nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou wilt." Q. What did He say to His apostles, when He returned after His three hours' prayer ? A. He said : " Rise, let us go j behold, he that will, betray Me is at hand." Q. How did Judas come to apprehend his divine Master ? A. He came at the head of a vile rabble, armed with clubs and swords. Q. What did St. Peter, seeing them advance to seize His divine Master ? A. He drew his sword, and cut off the right ear of a servant of the high-priest; but our Lord, unwilling to give any cause of complaint to His enemies, healed the servant's ear and said to St. Peter : " Put up again thy sword into its place, for all they that take the sword shall perish by the sword." Q. Whither was our Lord then led ? A. To the house of Caiphas, the high-priest, where the scribes and the ancients were assem- bled to pass judgment on Him. ^i ..»! ^1 'KM N',,' ,y ^» i'-^ 1 'r 170 8A0RIB HlBTOaT. seeing their Q. What did the apostles, Master apprehended ? A. They all took to flight with the exception of St. Peter, who followed Him afar off. Having entered the court-yard, to await the issue of the judgment, he stood amongst the officers and servants who were warming themselves by the fire. Q. What occurred as St Peter stood at the fire? A. A seryant-maid came up to him, and accused him of having been with Jesus the Gal- ilean. Q. What answer did St. Peter make ? A. Feeling no longer the zeal he had dis- played for the defence of his Master, he replied, **I know not what thou gayest." The charge being repeated by an other, he reiterated his denial ; and the third time, he solemnly protested that he knew not the man of whom they spoke. Q. What happened at that moment? A. The cock crowed and our Lord, turning round, looked at His pusiilunimous apostle, who, remembering the words of his divine Master, went forth and wept bitterly. 1^'' THE NEW TEgTAMlMT, ITl This model of penitents set no bounds to his sorrow. It is said that as often as he hoard the cook cxow, be wept bit- terly in remembrance of hid denial; and tradition adds that his cheeks were furrowed with the tears that he shed. Q. On what did C alphas question our Lord ? i* He questioned Him about His disciples and His doctrine. Our divine Lord answered that He had always delivered His doctrine in the synagogue and in the temple, and had taught nothing; that was not publicly known. Q. What accusation was then brought against Him ? A. Two suborned witnesses declared they had heard Hitn say that He could destroy the temple of God and in three days rebuild it. Our blessed Lurd had said that if His enemies would destroy the teiuplc of His body, He would raise it up in three days; but tlio witnesses were suborned to say that He had asserted His power to overthrow the Jewish temple, and to rebuild it in that short spaoti of time. Q. Did cur Lord defend Himself against this accusation ? A. No J He remained silent, whereupon C'^ phus rose up and adjured Him by the li' God to tell whether He was the Christ c Q. What did our Lord answer ? HI a, ■ ' ffS m im UM W. 172 BAORKT) HISTORY. A. He answered, " Thou hast said it : " and added, " Hereafter ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of the power of God, and coming in the clouds of heaven." Q. What did the high-priest on hearing this ? A. He rent his garments, saying : " He hath blasphemed, what further need have we of witnesses ? " Q. Whither was our Lord then led ? A. He was bound with chains and led to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, by whom He was sent to Herod, the tetrarch of Galilee. Q. How was our Lord treated by Herod ? A. As our Lord would not gratity his curi- osity by performing a miracle, he caused Him to be clothed in a white garment by way of derision and sent back to Pilate. . The white garment was one of honor ; bat our divine Lord was clothed with it in mockery of His claims. Q. What did Pilate when our Lord was again brought before his tribunal ? A. Hoping to move the people to compassion, he condemned our blessed Lord to be scourged publicly as a malefactor. THE NEW TESTAMBNT. i7a Q. Did the Jews relent when thej saw our Lord in that sad condition ? A. No, they clamored still louder for His death ; ar/i as the governor hesitated on account of His innocence, they cried out, ** His blood be on us and on our children." Q. Did Pilate yield to the clamors of the people ? A. Yes; heyielded to their iniquitous demand, and gave up our divine Lord to be crucified. Judaa hoaring that sentence of death was passed on hit divine Master, carried back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and ancients, saying : **I have sinned in betraying innocent blood;" but they replied, « What is that to us ? Loolc thou to it." On hearing this the wretch- ed man threw down the money, went away, and hanged himself in despair. A few years later, Pilate himself .was disgraced and exiled to Vienne in France. Racked with remorse, he ascended a steep rock — known as Pilate's peak — whence he threw himself headlong into the Rhone. Caiphas, bein^ shortly afterwards deposed from the high-pri^sthoud, killed himself in despair. Herod and his cruel wife liorodias, to gratify whom the tetrarcU had caused the head of St, John the Jiuptist to be out oOfr wore baniibed to Lyuni , and there terminated i| M ' ^ H m fi g- .; hi r- 1 i r H m m |c: 174 SACRED HISTORY. It *■ Mi Q. What piace was appointed for our Lord's orucifixion ? A. A little hill, called Calvary, which served as a place of public execution. The word Calvary signitios akiUly and the hill was so called either because that was its shape, or because the skulls of the criminals were strewed there. Q. What did the Jews, fearing that our Lord would expire on the way ? A. They compelled Simon of Cyrene to carry the cross up to Calvary. The perpendicular beam of the croaa was fifteen feet long } and the transverse, seven. Q. What did the executioners when they arrived at the summit of Calvary ? A. They fastened our Lord to the cross with three nails wherewith they pierced His hands and feet. Q. Who were crucified with our Lord ? A. Two thieves, one on each side of Him, as if He were the most notorious of malefactors. Q. What inscription was placed on the cross ? A, The following, which was written in He- brew, Greek, uad Latin, &o thut all who puiised 44^} THE NEW TESTAMENT. 175 that way might be enabled to read it : " Jesus of Nazareth, Kins: of the Jews.'* Q. For whom did our Lord pray on the cross? A. He prayed for those who crucified Him. Q. What did He say to His Father on their behalf? A. He said : " Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." Q. To whom did He recommend His blessed Mother *^ A. To St. John, the beloved disciple. Q. What were the last words our Lord said ? A. Bowing down His head, He said with a loud voice : " All is consummated ; Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit." t Our blessed Lord was condemned at about seven o'clock in the morning, was crucified at nine, — the hoar of the morning sacrifice in the temple, and expired at three la the afternoon, — the hour of the evening sacrifice. He wap lhvi<» six hours 3usperi«lc(l on the cross. Q. What extraordinary phenomena oco' at the death of our Savior ? A. The veil of the temple was rent i tiie earth quaked, and was covered wit^ uess for three hours ; the roob split : i } V 176 SACRED HISTORY. and the graves of many of the just of the old^ law, were thrown open. The veil was sixty feet long, and extremely thick. Though the graves opened at the death of our Savior, the saints, however, did not arise until after His resurreo- tion, as He " is the first-born of the dead." The holy tatbers, in general, teach that those who arose died again when they had accomplished the work for which God had rocalled them to life, and which was to testify to the reality of the resurrection of our blessed Savior. Q. How were the people affected by these prodigies ? A. At the sight of these prodigies, the cen- turion exclaimed : " Truly, this was a just man ; " and the multitude returned striking their breasts with compunction. Q. What did the soldiers who were sent to despatch those that had been crucified ? A. They broke the legs of the two thieves ; but on coming to our divine Lord and perceiv- ing that He was dead, they thrust a spear through His Sacred Heart, whence issued water and blood. According to an ancient tradition, the soldier who thug pierced the Sacred Heart of our divine Lord, booarae con- verted and preached the faith iu Cappadocia, wber« h9 lufteied m(ityr(iu(D. ilo i» i^u^^orefi Ip i^9 ChuroH uadsf THE NEW TESTAMENT. 177 Q. By whom was our Lord taken down from the cross ? A. By Joseph of Arithmuthea and Nicode- mus, who embalmed His sacred body and laid it in a tomb wherein no person had yet been interred. Q. Wl : request did the chief priests and Phaii^oes present to Pilate ? A. They bo^r^* d him to set guards round the tomb until tne third day, lest the disciples should steal away the body and give out thnt their Master bad risen as He had foretold. Q. What iiuppened early on the morning of the third day ? A. Our divine Lord rose gloriously from tlie tomb to the great terror of the guards, who were stricken with fear and became as dead men. Q. What did the guards when they recov- ered from their fright ? A. They hastened to the city and related all that had occurred to the chief priests, who gave them a great sum of money, to make them say that His disciples had stolen His body away while they were asleep. .: I I "i ■l] 178 BAORJCD BISTORT. ksi Q. Who were the first to come to the sep- ulchre after the resurrection ? A. Several holy women, among whom was Mary Magdalen, who came to embalm the body of her Lord. Q. What did they see on approaching the sepulchre ? A. To their great astonishment, they saw the Btone that closed its entrance, rolled away, and an angel, whose countenance was as lightning and raiment as snow, sitting thereon. Q. What did the angel say to them ? A. He said : " Fear not, for I know that ye seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here ; He is risen, as He said. Come ye and see the place where the Lord was laid ; and, going quickly, tell His disciples that He is risen, and will go before you into Galilee ; there ye will see Him," Q. What did St. Peter and St. John on hearing what had occurred ? A. They hastened to the sepulchre j and on entering, found the linen cloths lying together, and the headkerchief wrapt up apart. THE NEW TESTAMENT. 179 the sep- lom was the body iliing the J saw the way, and lightning 1? w that ye not here ; and see nd, going •isen, and e ye will John on J and on togetber, Q. To whom did our Lord first appear ? A. To Mary Magdalen, who had remained weeping at the sepulchre after St. Peter and St. John had departed thence. Eager to find Him whom she loved, she looked into the flepulohre and peroeired two angels in white apparel, who said to her, <*Why weepest thou ?" because they have taken away my Lord," said she, " and I know not where they have laid Him." Then turning round, she saw a man standing nigh, and, taking Him to be the gar- dener, said : ** Sir, if thou hast taken Him hence, tell me where thou hast laid Him." Jesus said to her " Mary," at which the pious Magdalen recognised her divine Lord, and, in a transport of joy, prostrated herself at His feet. Q. What did our Lord say to Mary Magdalen ? A. " Go to my brethren and say to them, I ascend to My Father and your Father, to My Grod and your God." It is a pious belief that the Most Blessed Virgin was the first to whooi our divine Lord manifested Himself after His resurrection. Q. Did our Lord again manifest Himself on the day of His resurrection ? % A. Yes, our divine Lord appeared : first, to St. Peter, in order to distinguish him from the rest of the apostles because of his primacy ; secondly;, to the two disciples who were going to r.\'A 1^4 180 RACRED HTBTORT. 11 1? Ijl M:'*' •^M hI' ' ^'H ^E" 'wSt H^' i« m- Km Ipii' mm ^|-; i^' (»'• Em mans, a little village about seven miles from Jerusalejii ; and thirdly, to the apostles as they were at table. The absence of St. Thomas on this occasion, was the cause of his incredulity. Q. What did our Lord say to His apostles the first time He appeared to them ? A. He said : " Peace be to you. As My Father sent Me^I also eend you ; " then breath- ing on them, He added: " Receive ye the Holy Ghost, whose sins ye shall forgive they are forgiven them ; and whose sins ye shall re- tain, they are retained." Q. When did our Lord again manifest Him- self to His apostles ? A. On the eighth day after His resurrection. St. Thomas was present, and, seeing the wound in the side of our Lord and the prints of tlio nails in His hands, he exclaimed: " My Lord, and mj ^.^od." Q. Ho V long did our Lord remain on earth after His resurrection ? A. Fo> ty days, during which He instructed His apost les in what they still required to know for the establishment and government of Hia Cliurch, THE NEW TESTAMENT. 181 les from I as they Lomas on redulity. apostles As My n breath- 3 ye the ive they ; shall re- fest Hini- irrcction . le wound of the ^ly Lord, on earth nstructed d to know it of ilia Q. From what mount did our Lord ascend into Heaven ? A. From Mount Olivet where His blessed Mother, His apostles, and disciples had assem- bled to meet Him. Q. What did our Lord say to His apostles before ascending into Heaven ? A. He commissioned them to "Go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost." Q. Whither did the apostles retire after our Lord's ascension ? A. They returned to Jerusalem and with- drew to an upper-room, where they prepared themselves for the reception of the Holy Ghost by fervent and continuous prayer. Q. What did they in the meantime? A. They elected St. Matthias to fill the place of Judas, the traitor. Q. When did the Holy Ghost descend on the apostles ? A. On the tenth day after our Lord's as- cension, and the fiftieth after His resurrection. i' I;! : ^' - : I il i,VJ. 182 SiORED BISTORT. hi' w Wn 'Tt Q. How did this take place ? A. About nine o'clock in the morning, a sudden noise, like that of a mighty wind, was heard, and parted tongues as of fire were seen descending on the heads of the apostles, who were filled with the Holy GhoMt and began to publish the wonderf^il works of God in divers languages. Q. What did St. Peter on this occasion ? A. He addressed the multitude that the extraordinary noise had gathered round the house ; and, by the unclior* of his discourse, converted 3,000 persons who wore baptized in the name of Christ Jesus. Q What miracle did St. Peter perform as he and St. John went up to the temple to pray ? A. He cured a poor helpless cripple, who was begging alms at the gate. As tho poor man imploringly fixed his eyes on the two apostles, St. Pctor said to him : ** Silver and gold I have nut; but what I have, I give thee. In the name of Jesiiis of Nazaieth. arise and walk." At that instant, the cripple leajicJ up, walked joyfully with the apostles into the (uiup.e, uud letumcd thauks to God for his miraculous Qure. THE NEW TESTAMENT. )8."H ming, a nd, was ere seen les, who egan to 1 divers ision ? that the lund the iseourse, )tizcd in form as |to pray ? ho wa8 )n the two )ld I have name of itant, the lostlcii into Liraculous Q. Whom did the apostles choose to assist them in their ministry ? A.. Seven holy men, called deacons, whose principal occupation was the distribution of alms and the administration of Baia^sm.. Q. Who was the first martyr ? A. St. Stephen, the first of the seven deacons, who was stored to death by order of the San- hedrim. Q. What remarkable person was present at the lapidation of St. Stephen ? A. A young man, aamed Saul, who held the garments of those who stoned the holy deacon . Though the Scripture oalls Saul a young man, he is thought, nevertheless, to have been thirty years of age, or more. Q. By what did Saul signalize himself ? A. By his fiery zeal in persecuting the infant Church. Q. What happened as he was on the road to Damascus, to seize the Christians who had es- caped thither ? A. As he drew nigh to the city, he was •uddenly surrounded by a dazzling light. Struck I' % k\ 184 8A0RED HISTORY. m [If ^i^fi., *.* ■ ^ ■ ■■ ( with terror, he fell to the ground, and hearci h voice, saying : " Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me ? " Full of amazement, he asked, *' Who art Thou, Lord ? " and the miraculous voice responded, " I am Jesus of Nazareth whom thou persecutest." Q. What did Saul say on hearing this ? A. He cried out, " Lord, what wilt Thou have me do ? " " Arise, go into the city," was the answer, " and there it will bo told thee what thou must do." Q. What followed ? A. Being unable to see, he was led by his attendants into the city, where he remained in prayer for three days aii4 three nights, after which he recovered his sight and was baptized by a disuple, named Ananias. It is commonly supposed that it was on this occasion tho Apostle of nations changed his name to that of Paul, though from the Acts of the Apostles it would seem that this change took place on the cuu version of the proconsul of Cyprus, Sergius Paulus, which event was so dear to the Apostle that he wished to preserve a perpetual remem- brance of it even in his name,— something like the ancient Eomau generals, who assumed the name of the provinces they conquered. THE NEW TESTAMENT. 186 heara a secutest asked, •aculous azuretli is? t Thou ^," was d thee by his ined in , after iptized oooaaioQ of Paul, )in that rooonsul ir to the remem- > ancient royinoes Q. How did St. Paul act after his conversion ? A. He became a zealous defender of the infant Church, and an indefatigable propagator of her holy doctrine. Q. VViio was tlie first among the Gentiles to embrace the faith? A. Cornelius, a Roman centurion, who was received into the Church by St. Peter. It may horo be remarked that St. Peter was the first of lie apostles to conlirtii his docl^rine by miraoles, the first to preach in the tuiuple, the first to convert the Jews, and the first to receive ^.hu Goatilej into the Churo'i. Q. What bet'ell St. Peter during the perse- cution which Herod raised against the iSithful ? A. He was apprehended and cast into prison. Q. How was he delivered from prison ? A. On the very night that preceded the day appointed for his execution, an angel appeared to him and bade him rise, tie on his sandals, and follow. Guided by his heavenly deliverer, he arose and left the prison ; at his approach, the iron gate leading into the city, flew open of itself, and the angel conducted him to the end of the street after which he disappeared. HI .f i 'I J>. ^ ^ /a A °^i ■c/. l iiid of Patmos. Q. Whither did tlie Most Blessed Virjrin so after the death of her divine ;:^on. A. She followed the apostle St. John to whose tender care she had been confided by our blessed Lord. Q.* Where did our blessed Lady (lie ? A. It is believed that she died at Jerusalem in the sixty-third year of her age, and that her 190 SJkCRXP BISTORT. pnre body, too pare for the corruption of the tomb, was carried up to Heaven. Q. What did the apostles compose before their separation ? A. They composed the Creed, or profession of faith that bears their name. Q. What did they afterwards ? A. They set out to announce the Gk)spel to all the nations of the earth ; and so great was the success that attended their evangelical labors that St. Paul applies to them the words of the Psalmist : ** Their sound k'ith gone forth into the earth, and their words ante the end of the world." Q. In what countries did they respectively preach? A. St. Peter preached in Syria and in Italy St. Andrew, in Scythia and Greece ; St. James the Greater, in Spain ; St. John, in Asia Minor ; St. Philip, in Phrygia ; and St. Bartholomew, in Armenia. Q. What countries did the other apostles ertngelise ? A. Sit. Thomas evangelised India; St Mat* THE NEW TEST All BVT. 191 thew, Persia and Ethiopia; St. James the IiL;^>, Judea ; St. Jude, Arabia ; St. Simon, Egypt and Mesopotamia; and St Matthias, t)appadocia and the countries situated on the shores of the Caspian Soa. Q. Sad the apostles any difficulties to en- counter ? A. Yes ; they were often dragged before pagan judges, publicly scourged, and oast into prison. Q. How did they bear these persecutions ? A. They rejoiced at being accounted worthy to suffer for the name of Christ. Q. How did they end their life ? A. Almost all of them terminated their apos- tolical career by martyrdom. St. Peter, St. Andrew, and St. Simon, were omoified; St. James the Greater was beheaded ; St. James the Leu was flung from the battlements of the temple ; St. Thomaf was transpierced with lances ; St Bartholomew was flay- ed alive ; St. Jude was shot with arrows ; St. Matthew wm put to death by the Ethiopians, and St. Matthias by the inhabitants of Colchis. St. John the Evangelist was oast into a caldron of boiling oil ; but, like the children in the fiery furnace, he was miraculously preserved. Of the twelve members of the apostolic college, St. Philip seemi to be the only one who was not oalled upon to laoriflo* his life for the oanie of hii divine Maeter. , I 192 KAi'RKD FtlSTORT. Q. Did these pf'«^f "Aliens impcdo ress of the church / A. Far from impeduig Us proirress, these per- secutions caused great numbers of the pagans to learn and embrace the faith of Christ. Ten sangainary tyrants during the space of about three hundred years bared the sword of {xirsooution against the infant Church, and made her little cradle float on a sea of blood ; they sought to submerge her beneath the reddened ware, but in Tain. The blood of the 11,000,000 of her children, who gladly went forth to meet the executionert was like the chosen seed which perishes only to produce a hundred-fold. .^. What do you infer from iMs ? A. That the Church will ever triumph over persecution, and that she shall subsist until the eonsammation of ages. ^rX3^:C5^rX>^::C??HS§ hese per- e pagans LSt. ibout three igaioBt. the on a sea of 8 reddened ,000 of her Kecuttoner, to produce nph ovor ntil the CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OP SACRED HISTORY. B. r. Creation of the world 4004 Birth of Cain 400*^ Birth of Abel 4002 Death of Abel oH7.> Adam died 3ll74 6eth died 2m'2 EnoB died 2864 Mathuealciu died 'loAii The Deluge 2.S4.S Tower of Babel 2247 Death of JJoe ly.is Birth of Abraham 19yri Birth of Sara 198<$ Calling of Abraham Iii21 Abranam rescues Lot 1912 Destruction of Sodom i8'.'7 Binb of Isaac IhliH Abraham's eacrifice Ih/il* Death of Sara IHL'J Death of Sem 1S4« Author Esau and Jacob 18.^6 .^ath of Abraham 1821 #aeob goes to Mesopctauia 1701^ \H rFWoyoT.ooTrAT, tabu. liiith of Rulen 175fl Birth of Levi Mhf\ Birth of Juda 175.') Birth of Jofcph \7tf> Jacob wrcistloH with an angel , 17oV' Birth of Benjamin IT.",! Joseph Fold by hi« brothers 1729 Death of Isaac 171fi Joseph, governor of E^ypt 1716 Beginnin/^ yf the fmnine 1708 Jacob goes to E^ypt 170fi D'jath of Jncob IfiHl* Death of Joseph \fu*th Birth of Aaron »v. 167-1 Birth of Mo5>es« 1671 Deliverance of the Jews from Egyptian bondage 1.491 Comniandnienti» given on Mount t^inai 1491 Death of Aaron 1452 Balaam, the Soothsayer 1452 The manna ceases to fnll r «>.-.. 1452 Death of Moses 1451 Jericho captured 1451 Death of Jos te 1426 Othniel, first judge 1405 Gideon appointed judge 1245 Jephte " " 1187 Heli " ** 1166 Death of Samson ]117 Death of Heli 1116 Samuel, judge 1116 8aul, anointed king 1095 ^irthof David 1C86 iXftvid conqueni Goliah 1062 rMUON'OT,f>nirAi, tari.k 195 .... VbP .... 176ft .... 1756 17'».^ i7::v> 17.".! 1729 171H 1716 1708 , 1706 168t> ir,:>,6 1671 1671 hm 1401 1462 . 1462 ....... 1462 1461 1451 1426 1405 .... 1246 .... 1187 .... 1166 .... ni7 .... 1116 .... 1116 .... 1096 .... 1C86 .... 1062 Hoath of Smnucl 1067 J'cjifh of i>aiil 1066 iJirth of Solomon 1033 Al>Fal(ini i.s flnin l*y Joab 1023 I>iivi(l tnko:ith of DuvitI 1016 l-^o'.oiiion suc?(«(hIs to the throne 1015 I'OJii-ation of iho K'n)]ile « 10U4 Drath ofS.lojuc.n 975 lloljo.Jin MM ri-cds til the throne 976 Ituvolt of the Ten Trib. ? 976 tti'Jtt o /■ Jud (I . Kinyg of Jura el. itoboi Ahia. irn »•••••••• ••••••••• i ••••••••••••a .Jen hoam. l»i}i.- Hi liiilniDj) 721 lv/<;cl.iiis tiills .'■ick of the ])ln;.nic 712 S»iin.K'li<.iil»V sirmy < 'uiosi fMcirriiijiitcd 710 Miiim.'.-tf' ii.-<.'« nU> the uuoi.u of Jut 687 Death of Jeroinias 6&4 fHnoNOI OfJICAI. TABl.K. ll>7 712 710 f)l»8 tn » (ill C. I r.oy coo 005 t'.oa 698 6ii0 688 , 688 . 687 . 6S« Death of liiiltiiK«ar 6.SJi LUict of Cyrus |.eMiultiii^ thu Jcwj? to roturii 6.'!fi Hiul of the CujiUvity 6;i0 I'C'Jiciilion of the iccoiui tcmjilo i'li K^the^ hiivo." hrr nntiun 6tiy KfbMiltl;ii;r of lliy walls of Jerusalem 464 l)eatli of lSfln;;iiias 4«4 Alexaiiiicr at .leiuttalcu *>'-y^ The .^optun^iiil versiuu of the i^ciijituies 277 AiilioctiUB the (ii'cat cdiH^uei'h Judoa '202 llv.WinUnixs att' |>luii8 MiUtyrJoin of I^lcazar and ibo *Maehaboe.s 107 Math.'ithhis takei^ ii{> urms 167 JiuJas MiK'haboi!8 ouiinnands the Jewish aruiy 100 (jilonuux (ieiith of JudflJii Mai'habeiv.^ 101 Jonathan coninuinds the Jewiah uruiy 161 >iui()n •* ** •« - " , 14-1 Juhn llyrcauus •• " ** " 135 Ari.-'tobiilus I.arf.iumes the title of kin^ 1U7 AK'xander Janneus, king 105 Alexandra, queen <'f late kiU;^, governs the cation 78 Ilyrcanus 11., king 68 Ari^tobulub ][., usurps the crown ^ 06 ilyreanus 1 1., re.stored 04 lli-'iod receives from Rome the title of kirg 40 Birth (.four Louu JkiSUS Chkist, after the Creation. 4004* A. U. Flight into Egypt 1 Return to Judea ^ 8 Jot»ui< goeti up to the temple 12 • b«« pag« 199. 198 OHRONOLOOICAL TABLK. w A. I). Filato govern* iV of Jud©A 26 John commenut'H to preach ^ 2'.' l)oatk of St. Joseph li ' Our Lord is baptized ^ «'0 Our Lord at Cauji ^ ">() Election of tho twelve npostlos •>) St. John the Baptist is beheaded .'U The Sermon oo the Mount ''l i'liii da I filler of Jairus ia raised to li To 31 The Kon of the widow of Nairn " " " ol The storm at sea appoaBed - ol Cli«/ico of the seventy-two disciples 31 Multiplication of the loaves 3li The transliguratioa 33 Lazarus raised to lifb ,...,, 33 'IJjo last supper 33 Our Lord triumphantly enteie Joru.'^al.'iii 33 Crucitixion nnd resi*rrection of out Lord 33 Ascension of our Lord 33 St. Stephen is stoned to death 33 Coiiveision ofSt. Paul ,. lA rajttism of Corueliud 39 &'t.Matthew writes his go.spel 41 'Ihi' ibllowers of our Lord lirst tlo ol t^t. IVtcr 6o Aiart}Ml<.ui ol t:>. Vvlvv and Puul 67 CiuciiiMun oi iSt. Andrew 6U Jerusalem mkcn and dotmycu by Titus 70 bt. iiiirtlR.iuii.cn' i.« l!:iyod alive 73 »SL Thunuis is I'icuMjd with l;u;re.-' TA Death ot'bt. Phili|. 87 Martyrdom vi' i:l. Aiaitln .v SH) Death ot^t. Luke 'JO Crueinxion ot'M. .^iru'ui 'JU ^l. Jude i.-> sliut will) iirrcwy 10 ^cc()tld |.or! 8t. John writes tl\c Apoiuilypje and his g(,;:pcJ Vi\ De.ith of tic. Jehii the Evjni^elitr Mic 01UO^(lLiiliV OF TiiE (:iu:ATl;^^ From the Creation to the birth uf Chii.-t, I'liji' . According to the Hebrew U:m, oJUl.' « •* " ^ama^itan " -iliv:; «« ♦' " ^jM....(( .. 3017 « S65(l)« Alathusalom" 3317... ... 2348 u 969 M Lamech •« 3130.... 2363 t* 777 « Noe «* 2948 " 2440 " 2343 «' 19v8 1846 2008 it 950 600 338 U iScm " It Arpliaxitd.. " it llcber '* 2281... ... '* 1817 4( 464 u Tharo " 2126... H ■ «. 1921 4< 205 « Abraham... •« 1990... 1821 *t 176 «• liaac ♦' Ib9rt... »• • 1716 n 180 K Jacob «• 1836 «' 1689 «4 147 tt Kuben •• 1768... ... •' 1634 U 124 It Sinicun *♦ . 1767.... << * • i « It Ltvi '• 1766... (1 ... 1619 <( 137 tt Juda " 1766... • . • 1636 *i 119 Im i>an ♦« 1765... 1764 .. ... • • • 1628 1622 127 132 II A'eiihthtili... " II (iiul " 1764... 1746... ... " if • •• ... « # * 1635 126 110 11 A^er •* 11 Joi't'iih «• tt Lciijamin.. " 1731... • • > * 4« * II (1) In the 3f)5ih year of his ige, Enoch was taken fron* aiJ.ung ujcu and trans )orled to n plac Li oi r'jpose and ha] jtii^css. -* The dates omitted are not known ged 930 yeara. n2 >* SK)5 » 9Hi » 895 » 9d2 " S65(l)<«i 9t)9 » 777 •« 950 «' eoo « 464 '( 206 " 176 *• 1«0 « 147 " 124 " 137 " 119 '. 127 " 132 " * tt 126 «* 110 '< * u taken from r'3|>ose and eVKOKOLOOIOAL TABLB. Thc Peophbtb. 201 «( <« 4< «< « u 4 < < ( ( t [ 2 JeremiM M «< • tt 629 tt tt tt 3 £iechiel M U tt 695 tt it tt 4 Daniel M U tt 606 tt tt tt 6 Jonaa M «< tt 800 tt tt tt Joel . « <• tt 790 tt t* tt 7 Amot M <« tt 788 tt tt ir 8 Osee « M tt 780 tt tt II » Micheas «< M tt 754 It tt II 10 Nahum M <« tt 750 tt t* II 11 Sophonias <« «< tt 625 tt »< tt 12 Habaouo «< «< tt 585 tt II tt 13 Abdias « It II 582 tt tt tt 14 Aggeus « tt « 627 tt tt tt 15 Zacharias M t* tt 626 tt f« tt 16 Malaohi M tt • tt 436 tt tt It SIGNIFICATION OP 80MJS SCEIPTIIBAL JiAMES. Aaron ....^...« a mountaineer, Ab«l weakneet, vanityi Abraham yfaiher of many. Absalom ^..,./atker of peace, Adam rtd earth, Andrew cowageoue. 202 SIGNIFICATION OF SOME Anna, Anne graeio%u, kind. Babel confusion, Benjamin son of my right-hand, i. e. tfgood Beihlehetn house of bread, [/ort«fM.j Cain acquisition, Caleb a dog. Calvary a skull, Christ t, anointed, Cyrus the sun, Daniel ^^'udge of God, David beloved. Pebbora. a bee, Eliwbeth worshiper of Ood, Emmanuel ,,,Uod with us, Eisther i star, good fortune. Eve mother of the living, Ezechicl God-strengthened, Gabriel the mighty one of Got (jethsemani oil-press^ Gideon destroyer. Gospel glad tidings, Isauo laughter, Isaias help of Jehova, Israel strong against God, prince wOh AM* T '^^^ > a supplanter, James ^ ^'^ Jeremias ,~ raised up by God, Jerusalem „ habitatioi* of peace, Jesse „ firm, Je8U8 Savior, Jezabel not inhabited, Joas God-given, e. of good [/ortKfM.] UhCM. SCRIPTURAL NAMES. \^^' ■■ 'P^»«cuted, ajfflietod, ^"^^^ grace, favor, »'"°a« «...a dovt, -•onathan God-given, ^^^^V^ addition, •'"da celebrated. J"*^'th ^praiaed, ^«^» a joining. ' '^'* wearied, '^"l avoU, J'»cifer brilliani, ^'"•^ ahammer. l\''[l""': miirtreae, queen, Har oftho Mathusjilam man of (he duet. ^^^^^^^y^ gift ofJehova, ^'essiah anointed. ^^^<^^^e^ who i, like to Oodf ^^^^"^ drawn out of water, N .thanael given of God, Achemias comforted of Jehova. ^^ oonaolation, reei, ^i>oini.- beautiful. ^'">' little, email. "^^^r a rook. ^'^•'^rao king, eun. ^^'•'P o lover ofhoreet, I^achel a ewe. ^'ap'^ael .phyeieian of O^a. Rebecca ^ « nooae. ^^"ben behold, a eonf '^"^^ a female friend. damson eun-like, ^funixt\ heard of God, 203 204 SIGNIFICATION OF SCRIPTURAL NAMES. Sara ) Sarah J a prtncew. Solomon paeijie, Saul desired. Simon" ( favorable hearing, Stephen a eroicn, a garland, Susanna a lily, Thomas a twin, Timothy „ one who honore God. Tobias pUaeing to Jehova. Zaeharias..... whom Jehova remembere, Sebedee Jehova*^ ^i/t. E8.