Course 1, Chapter 23: The Messiah promised and prefigured — Second promise and fourth figure of the Messiah. — Melchisedech. A. C. 2247-1921

1. What happened after the deluge?

After the deluge the life of man was perceptibly shortened. The long stay of the waters on the earth enfeebled the strength of the plants, corrupted the air, and caused nature to lose her primitive vigor.

2. Who were the sons of Noah?

The sons of Noah were Sem, Cham and Japhet; and from them have sprung all the people of the earth.

3. Were they all three blessed by their father?

Cham, having been wanting in respect for his father, the holy patriarch cursed him in the person of Chanaan, and his malediction produced its effect.

4. What did the descendants of Noah do before separating?

Before separating, the descendants of Noah undertook to build a city and a tower whose summit should reach the heavens, in order to immortalise their name and secure them against a future deluge. Thi? wa an evil purpose and God did not bless it.*

80 CATECHISM OF PERSEVERANCE.

Q How did God prevent the execution of their pur pose?*

A. God prevented its execution by confounding the language of men. Being no longer able to understand one another, they were compelled to abandon the work. For this reason the tower was called Babel, that is, confusion.

5. What became of men after the confusion of language?

They separated in large families, and removing farther and farther, by degrees they peopled the whole earth. They carried with them the knowledge of the principal truths of religion and the remembrance of the great events which had happened after the deluge. Hence it is that we find amongst all the people of the earth, traditions of those memorable events.

6. Did the people long preserve the true religion?

They did not preserve the true religion long. Blinded by their passions they disowned the true God, and in his place, adored creatures — then commenced idolatry.

7. What did the Lord do to preserve on the earth the knowledge of the true religion, and especially the memorv of the great promise of a Redeemer?

I'D preserve the true religion, and especially the memory of the great promise of the Redeemer/ God chose a particular people to be the depositary of both. The Jews were this chosen people — their father was Abraham, the son of Thare, a descendant of Sem.

8. What did God promise Abraham?

God promised Abraham that all nations should be blessed in him who should come out of him, that Is, God promised him that from him should be born the Messiah. This second promise excludes all other people, and shows us that we must look, for the future, among the posterity of Abraham for the Saviour.

9. What was the fourth figure of the Messiah?

The fourth figure of the Messiah was Melchise-

dech. Melehisedech signifies King of Justice; our Lord is justice itself. Melchisedech was priest of the Most High; our Lord is the Priest by excellence. Melehisedech blessed Abraham; our Lord blesses the church represented by Abraham. Melehisedech offers in sacrifice bread and wine; our Lord offers himself a sacrifice under the appearance of bread and wine.