Q. Did God promise that the World should not be destroyed any more by water?

A. God made a Covenant with Noah, of which his Bow in the Clouds was to be the token that the waters should no more become a flood to destroy all flesh, or the earth.-ix. 11, 13, 15.

Q. Does it appear that God will ever destroy the World again, by any other means?

A. St. Peter tells us that, as the World that then was, being overflowed with water, perished; so the Heavens and the Earth which are now, by the same word are reserved unto fire against the day of judgment, and perdition of ungodly men. 2 Pet. iii. 6, 7.

Q. At the second peopling of the world, does God solemnly forbid the crime of murder?

A. God said, Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God made He man.-ix. 6.

Q. Does our Saviour insist upon the same necessity of avoiding the shedding of blood without the sanction of the laws?

A. Our Lord tells us that "all that take the sword, shall perish with the sword."-Matt, xxvi. 52.

Q. How was the World peopled after the flood? A. By Noah's sons, Shem, Ham, and Japhet: of them was the whole world overspread.-v. 19. Q. Did God bestow a particular blessing upon any of Noah's descendants?

A. He permitted Noah to bless Shem and Japhet; while Canaan, the son of Ham, was cursed for his evil treatment of his Father.v. 25, 26.

Q. From which of Noah's sons was the promised Seed, the Saviour of Mankind, to descend? A. From Shem.

Q. What is meant by God's dwelling in the tents of Shem?

A. The knowledge of the One true God, and his worship, were to be preserved in the family of Shem.

Q. How does this appear?

A. The Israelites were descended from Shem; and when all the rest of the world was fallen into Idolatry, they still worshipped God, who was called the God of Israel.

Q. What led to the dispersion of mankind?

A. Having only one language, they resolved to build a city and a tower, lest they should be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.— v. 4.

Q. Did God approve of this design?

A. He determined to confound their language, so that they could no more understand one another's speech. v. 9.

Q. What was the immediate consequence of this confusion of human languages?

A. They were scattered abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth; and they left off to build the city.-v. 8.

CHAPTER XII.-SECTION 2.

Q. Who is the next person distinguished in Scripture by God's peculiar favour?

A. Abraham, the son of Terah, descended from Shem.

Q. What is the first remarkable thing recorded of Abraham?

A. God called him out of his own country and kindred.

Q. What promise does God make to him? A. First, God promised to make of him a great nation, and so to bless him, that all the nations of the earth should be blessed in him.-v. 2, 3.

Q. Where did Abraham dwell?

A. First in Ur, of Chaldæa; then in Haran.— xi. 31.-xii. 5.

Q. Into what country was he commanded to go? A. Into the land of Canaan.-v. 5.

Q. Do we find this act of obedience in Abraham recorded in the New Testament?

A. St. Paul says, By Faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.-Heb. xi. 8. Q. Did any of Abraham's Family journey with him?

A. Lot, who was his Nephew.-xiii. 5.
Q. Where did Lot settle?

A. In the fertile plain of Jordan.-v. 10.
Q. What calamity befel Lot there?

A. He was carried away captive with the other inhabitants of the land, when the Kings of Sodom and Gomorrah were beaten by their enemies. Q. How was he delivered from captivity?

A. By Abraham, who slew the Kings which had led him away captive.-v. 16.

Q. When Abraham returned from the slaughter of these Kings, what honour was paid to him?

A. Melchisedek, the King of Salem, and the Priest of the Most High God, met him, and pronounced a blessing upon him. v. 18, 19, 20.

Q. Is there any allusion to this circumstance in the New Testament?

A. St. Paul tells us that the name of Melchisedek signified King of Righteousness; that he was King of Salem, or King of Peace; and that he was a type or figure of Christ,-Heb. vii. 2.

Q. In what sense was he a type of Christ?

A. In being a King of Righteousness and Peace; and in having, like Christ, an everlasting Priesthood.v. 21.

Q. What is the next remarkable circumstance in the history of Abraham?

A. His benevolent intercession with God to save the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, which were threatened with destruction.

Q. Were they destroyed?

A. They were burned with fire and brimstone from Heaven for the abominable wickedness of their inhabitants.

Q. Is this awful judgment of God upon sinners mentioned in the New Testament?

A. Our Lord tells us that, In the same day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from Heaven, and destroyed them all.Luke xvii. 29.

Q. Is this held out as an example to deter all other ungodly persons?

A. St. Peter tells us that God spared not the old world; but turning the Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them with an overthrow making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly.-2 Pet. ii. 5, 6.

Q. Were any spared when these Cities were destroyed?

A. Lot, who was a righteous man, with bis family. xix. 15.

Q. What commandment did God give him at his departure from the city?

A. Look not behind thee, lest thou be consumed. v. 15.

Q. Did they obey this commandment?

A. Lot's wife disobeyed..

Q. How was she punished?

A. She became a Pillar of Salt.-v. 26.

Q. Is this punishment of Lot's wife alluded to in the New Testament?

4. Our Saviour bade his Disciples remember Lot's wife.-Luke xvii. 32.

Q. What sons had Abraham?

A. The two, of whom chief mention is made, are Isaac and Ishmael.

Q. Who bore Ishmael to Abraham?
A. Hagar.

Q. Was he the Child of Promise?

A. The Child of Promise was to be born of a free woman; but Hagar* was a hand-maid or bond

woman.

Q. Were these two children of Abraham to be types of God's future dispensations to mankind?

A. St. Paul tells us that Hagar, the mother of Ishmael, was a type of Mount Sinai, from whence the law was given; while Sarah represented the heavenly Jerusalem which is free, and the mother of us all. Gal. iv. 25, 26.

Q. Why is Abraham called the Father of the Faithful (that is) of believers?

A. Because he believed the promises of God against all human appearance, and was a pattern to other believers in all ages.

Q. Where is he called the Father of the Faithful? A. St. Paul says, that he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had, yet being uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all them that believe.Rom. iv. 14.

Q. What were the three great promises of God, on which the commendation of Abraham's faith rested?

A. 1st. That he should have a son when he was

*Examine from the 9th verse of the 21st chapter to the 21st verse, upon the story of Hagar.