In what part of Judea was John reared? Luke i: 80.

      When he entered on his ministry what was his food and dress? Matt. iii: 4. What was the propriety of his camel's hair clothing? Ans.--It was coarse raiment, and therefore well adapted to the life of self-denial which he led. Are locusts suitable for food? Ans.--Yes; they are eaten to this day by the poorer classes in Arabia.

      Did John ever drink wine or other intoxicating liquors? Luke i: 15. Quote what Jesus said of John's habits compared with his own. Matt. xi: 18, 19. What was the wisdom of such a mode of life? Ans.--John's mission was to preach repentance, and his mode of life, being a constant rebuke to the luxury and self-indulgence of the age, gave greater weight to his preaching. Why did not wisdom require Jesus to live the same way? Ans.--He came not to insist especially on any one duty, but to give proportionate instruction on all the duties of life, and therefore it was best for him to go to no extreme in his manner of living.

      What was the chief subject of John's preaching? Matt. iii: 1, 2.

      Quote a passage from his address to the [14] Pharisees and Sadducees. iii: 7-10. What is meant by the figure of the ax and the trees in the verse last quoted? Ans.--That, as each tree which did not bring forth fruit would be hewn down with the ax, so each man who did not bring forth the fruits of repentance would be punished.

      How did John explain to the people, the publicans, and the soldiers, what he meant by the fruits of repentance? Luke iii: 10-14.

      Note.--The demand made of each party shows that a reformation of life was what he called "fruit meet for repentance."

      What is said of John as a witness for Jesus? Jno. i: 6-8. What testimony did he give before the baptism of Jesus? Matt. iii: 11, 12. Was this all, or is it only a specimen of his testimony? Luke iii: 18.

      What questions were put to John about himself, and how did he answer them? John i: 19-27. Why did they think he was the Christ? Ans.--They were looking for the Christ to appear, and they naturally mistook for him so extraordinary a person as John.

      Repeat some more definite testimony of John. John i: 29, 30. How did John know Jesus to be the Lamb of God? 31-34. What took place the next day after this last testimony? 35-40.

      What is the last testimony we have from John? John iii: 28-30. What use did Jesus afterward make of John's testimony? John v: 31-35.

      What use did Paul make of it? Acts xiii: 25.

      Why did the people think he was Elias? John i: 21. Ans.--Because it was predicted that Elias or Elijah would come before the [15] day of the Lord. (Mal. iv: 5.) Why did John say he was not Elias, when Jesus, in Matt. xi. 14, says he was? Ans.--He denied being Elias in reality, but he was the one figuratively called Elias or Elijah by Malachi, because he was so much like that prophet.

      What prophet is the one called "that prophet" in the next question put to John? Verse 21. Ans.--It was a prophet predicted by Moses and really the Christ, though the Jews did not know this. Deut. xviii. 15.

[FBL 14-16]