to the public. This, after much hesitation, for he is not a teacher, but a learner, the writer has concluded to do in this volume. The order of events which has been followed in the text is, in the main, that adopted by Dr. Robinson in his most excellent "Harmony of the four Gospels." The notes are mostly the result of a very wide, but very desultory reading of Biblical authorities; and the source whence particular parts have been drawn, cannot now, in all cases, be readily ascertained. The most that they contain, however, will be found in the Commentaries of Clarke, Whitby, Olshausen, Norton, Tholuck, Campbell, and Rosenmüller; in Horne's Introduction, Jahn's Archæology, Critici Sacra, Calmet's and Smith's Bible Dictionaries, Dr. Thomson's "Land and the Book," Lynch's Expedition to the Dead Sea," Stanley's "Sinai and Palestine," Neander's "Life of Christ," and Prime's "Tent Life in the Holy Land;" all which works should be read by everyone who would acquire a full knowledge of this most interesting and most important subject. In the notes no teachings are included. The one who rightly reads the simple record of the life and sayings of Jesus needs no exhortation to a right practice; and, both by his inclination, and by his habits of thought, the writer is unfitted for the exposition and perhaps also for the understanding-of any system of theology. The grandest truths were uttered by Jesus in the simplest words, words which the way-faring man, though a fool, can understand, - and he himself said that if any one will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether he spoke from himself. practical observations," or doctrinal INTRODUCTION. IN 'N the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him, and without him nothing was made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shone in the darkness; and the darkness received it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear testimony of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not the Light, but was sent to bear testimony of the Light. The true Light, which shines on every man, came into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came to his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God, even to those that believe on his name: Who are born, not of superior blood, nor by natural generation, nor by the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory,glory as of the only begotten from the Father,) full of grace and truth. John bore testimony of him, and cried, saying, "This is he of whom I said, He that comes after me, takes rank before me; because he was before me." And out of his fulness have all we received, and grace upon grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known. *John i. 1-18. |