same in heaven. What is meant by our Lord's binding, or loosing, in heaven, the things which his apostles should bind or loose on earth? That our Lord would confirm their word by his authority. Did our Lord confirm their word? Yes; he confirmed it with signs following.* What were those signs following? Miracles of healing; and miracles of conversion.t Did our Lord promise to ratify whatever his apostles should teach? Yes. But might not the apostles, who were only men, sometimes make a mistake in what they taught? No; for it was not they who spoke, but the Spirit of God that spoke in them.‡ Were the apostles, at all times, under the unerring guidance of the Holy Spirit? Not in their private capacity. What makes you think that the apostles, in their private capacity, were not always infallibly guided by the Spirit of God? Because we find some blemishes in their temper and conduct.§ When were they infallibly guided by the Spirit of God? Whenever they published the Gospel, whether by speaking or writing. Are many things bound and loosed in their writings? Yes. Mention an instance of something which they have bound or forbidden? Fellowship with unbelievers.|| Mention an example of something loosed by them? Free

Mark xvi. 20.

+ For proofs, see Acts ii. and fii. 8,
Matt. x. 20.

SAs, the fiery zeal of James and John (Luke ix. 54): the fall of Peter (Luke xxii. 54--60): and the dispute of Paul and Barnabas (Acts.xv. 39).

2 Cor. vi. 14.

dom from the ceremonial law.*

Are these, and all other things, taught by the apostles, to be regarded as the word of God? Yes; their writings form part of the oracles of God.t What are oracles? The sayings of divine wisdom. How are these sayings to be received by us? With meekness.†

20. What charge did our Lord then give to his disciples? "Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was the Christ." Why did our Lord forbid the disciples to publish his Messiahship? See viii. 4.

21. What was the next subject to which our Lord directed the attention of his disciples? The great work which he had to accomplish. When you

with sin.

speak of the work of Christ, what do you mean? His obedience unto death.§ Why did the Lord Jesus Christ become obedient unto death? That we might have eternal life. For what is eternal life given? As the reward of perfect obedience. Can you render perfect obedience to the law of God? No. Why not? Because all my works are mixed How, then, can you obtain eternal life? By the meritorious obedience of the Lord Jesus Christ. And how may you become interested in Christ's meritorious obedience? By believing in him. What part of his work did our Lord here begin to foretel ? His sufferings. At what period did he begin to show his disciples what he should suffer? "From that time forth." *Gal. iv. 9. + Heb. v. 12.

James i. 21. § Phil, ii. 8.

Had not our Lord told them before of these things? Not so plainly. And why not? Because when their faith was very weak, they could not bear it.† Was there much kindness and tenderness in this instance of our Lord's conduct? Very much. Why did our Lord now tell them of his approaching sufferings? Because it was time to prepare their minds for the event. For what event? His being cut off out of the land of the living.‡

Why was his

On what

precious life cut off? As a sin-offering. account was his life cut off? For the transgressions of his people.‡ What benefit will you derive from the death of Christ, if you are one of his people? Deliverance from the curse, and pardon of all my sins. What are the particulars of our Lord's approaching sufferings, as detailed in this 1. The place where he should suffer. 2. The persons by whom he should suffer. 3. What he should suffer. 4. The happy issue of his suffer

verse?

ings. suffer?

What was the place where he should "Jerusalem." What is Jerusalem? See

ii. 1. Did our Lord suffer death within the city of Jerusalem? No; he suffered without the gate.§ Why was the place of his death so particularly described as being outside the gate? Because sinofferings, under the law, were burned without the camp.ll What is the camp? See viii. 2. Who were the persons by whom our

Lord was to suffer?

• His former allusion to the subject is recorded, John ii. 19.

"The elders, and chief priests, and scribes."

What "elders" were these?

Jewish elders.

Who

What was

were the Jewish elders? See xv. 2.

the cause why these rulers were such enemies to our Lord? Because they knew him not.* Was their ignorance sinful? Yes.

When is our ig

When we have the

not improve them.

norance of divine truth sinful? means of knowing it, and do What is the next class of our Lord's enemies mentioned in the text? The "chief priests." Who were the priests? See ii. 4. Who were the chief priests? See ii. 4. Why were the chief priests Because he taught the Did not the priests like the people to be taught? No. Why not? Because they knew that when the people were instructed, they would leave them, and follow Christ. Were they jealous of our Lord's growing influence with the multitude?

such enemies to our Lord? people.†

Yes. Did the chief priests ever

make an attempt upon the life of Christ? Yes; on one occasion they sent officers to take him.‡ Did those officers apprehend him? No; they could not do it. What prevented? They heard him speak; and his words melted their hearts and filled them with admiring thoughts of him. What is the third class of persons by whom our Lord predicted that he should suffer? The "scribes." Who were the scribes? See ii. 4. Why were the scribes such enemies to the Lord Jesus? Because our Lord had condemned them for leading John vii. 32. § 46.

*Acts xiii. 27. + Luke xix. 47, 48.

the people astray.

How were the scribes guilty

of leading the people astray? By teaching them to keep the traditions of men, and thereby to break the commandments of God.* We come now to the third particular in this verse-What was our Lord to suffer? "Many things," and to "be killed." What are we to understand by the "many things" referred to? His agony in the garden, when he sweat as it were great drops of blood; † his being denied by Peter, betrayed by Judas, and forsaken by all his disciples; his being condemned by Pilate, scourged by the soldiers, and mocked by the Jews.‡ What was to be the end of his sufferings? He was to be killed. How? By crucifixion. What did our Lord predict, as the happy issue of his sufferings? That he should "be raised again on the third day." Why did our Lord mention his resurrection at this time? To comfort his disciples under the bitter prospect of his sufferings and death.

22. What did his disciples say, when they heard the

painful recital of what their Master was to endure? "Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee." What is it to rebuke? To chide. What did Peter mean by saying, Be it far from thee, Lord? Abhorred be the thought, that thou shouldst

+ Luke xxii. 44.

Matt. xv. i. 9. Note, the above particulars must be broken into distinct questions-thus: By whom was Jesus denied? By whom betrayed? &c.