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first three Gospels Christ chiefly speaks in brief parabolic sentences; in John, he speaks in prolonged discourse, full of feeling, depth, and elevation. Yet the image which the first three Evangelists give of Christ, in no way conflicts with the representation of his Master, supplied by John. The chief features of the person of the Redeemer, are altogether accordant in both pictures, and we can only know the full, sacred image of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, when we have learnt so to do, by the aid of all the writers, and have formed the separate features into one harmonious whole.

Their relationship. The internal relationship of the first three Gospels consists in this,-that they all present the most important events in the life of Christ, in the same position, and under the same development; for they all three touch only briefly on the period anterior to the Saviour's public ministry; give then the discourses, travels, and miracles of Jesus; narrate his attendance at the festivals; describe his sufferings, crucifixion, interment, and resurrection; and end with his departure from the earth. We need not here take into account the slight deviations that occur in arrangement. As specimens of their verbal agreement, we may refer to the following instances. (1.) Matt. ix. 15; Mark ii. 20; Luke v. 35. (2.) Matt. xvi. 28; Mark ix. 1; Luke ix. 27. (3.) Matt. xix. 23, 24; Mark x. 23, 25; Luke xiii. 24, 25.

Their deviations from each other.-Contradictions and deviations in detail appear in various parts of the evangelical accounts, and will be found to be explained in the present volume in the places where they occur, which are as follows. 1st, In the call of the apostles (Matt. iv. 18-22; Mark i. 16-20; Luke v. 2—11. Comp. John i. 37, seq.). 2nd, In place and person (comp. Matt. viii. 18-23, with Luke ix. 52-62); for in

Matthew the place is Perea, but in Luke, Samaria; in Matthew the persons are a scribe, and one of his disciples; in Luke, three unknown individuals. 3rd, In the ass employed for Christ's entry into Jerusalem, for Matthew (xxi. 2) mentions two animals, whilst Mark (xi. 2) and Luke (xix. 30) only mention one. 4th, In Peter's denial, in which, according to Matthew, two damsels and other persons give occasion to the treachery (Matt. xxvi. 69-73); according to Mark, one damsel and other persons (Mark xiv. 66-70); according to Luke, one maid and two other persons (Luke xxii. 56-59); and according to John, a maid who kept the door, those who sat at the fire, and a kinsman of Malchus (John xviii. 17—27). 5th, In the day and hour of the crucifixion; for, according to Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus ate the paschal lamb on the first day of unleavened bread, and, therefore, when the festival had begun, (Matt. xxvi. 17; Mark xiv. 12; Luke xxii. 7, seq.,) and was crucified at the third hour, that is, nine in the morning (Mark xv. 25); according to John, the Jews had not eaten the passover, (John xviii. 28,) and the festival had not begun, for it was the preparation of the passover (John xix. 14, 31) on which Jesus was crucified; and about the sixth hour, that is, mid-day, Jesus was still before Pilate (John xix. 14.)

St. Matthew and his Gospel.-Matthew, the son of 34 Alphæus, was originally named Levi, and was a taxgatherer on the Sea of Galilee; but after his call to be an apostle his name was changed to Matthew. According to ecclesiastical history, he lost his life in Ethiopia. His Gospel is said to have been originally written in the Hebrew, that is, in Aramaic or Syro-Chaldee, which was at that time the language of the country; but efforts have been recently made to show that it was originally in

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Greek. The matter cannot be considered as decided. It must have been written before the destruction of Jerusalem, as he says that the field purchased with the price of Judas' treachery was "called the field of blood unto this day;" so that his Gospel is the oldest of the four.

Its scope, object, and style.-This Gospel appears to have been specially intended for the Jews, and its object was to show that Jesus was really the Messiah promised by the prophets. This is proved by the following peculiarities. 1. Matthew cites from the Old Testament more passages than the other evangelists, from whence only the Jews could be convinced of the Messiahship of Jesus. 2. He does not explain the Jewish customs, but appears to presume that his readers would understand them without explanation. 3. He prominently sets forth that Jesus was sent specially to the Jews, and recounts the threat that the kingdom of God should be taken from them and be given to the Gentiles. 4. He reports more than the other evangelists, the rebukes pronounced by the Saviour on the scribes and Pharisees, who might subsequently have induced the Jewish Christians to apostatize by means of their influence and persecutions. As a special peculiarity on the part of Matthew, it may be mentioned that he takes great pleasure in bringing similar things together and giving them as a united whole, as in the case of the Sermon on the Mount v.—vii.), the parables (xiii.), etc.

36 Facts peculiar to Matthew.-Matthew relates many circumstances which are not recorded by the other evangelists, of which the following are the chief. 1st, Our Lord's pedigree through Joseph (i. 1-17). 2nd, Visit of the Magi (ii. 1-12). 3rd, Flight into Egypt (ii. 13-16). 4th, Murder of the Innocents (ii. 16-19). 5th, Parable of the Ten Virgins. 6th, Dream of Pilate's

wife. 7th, Resurrection of many saints after our Lord's resurrection. 8th, Bribing of the Roman guard set to watch the sepulchre.

St. Mark and his Gospel.-The life of Mark, or John 37 Mark, will be found included in the second part of the present volume (see Index). It is generally allowed that he wrote his Gospel in the Greek language at Rome, and under the influence of St. Peter.

Its scope, object, and style.-Mark's Gospel seems to 38 have been specially intended for Gentile Christians, for the following reasons. 1. Frequent quotations from the Old Testament are wanting, also the history of the birth of Jesus and his descent from David. 2. The rebukes and passages applicable only to the Jews are omitted. 3. He evidently had Latin readers before his eyes, since he determined the value of a coin in Roman money, when he estimated the widow's "two mites which make a farthing," quadrans.

Facts peculiar to St. Mark.-The following circum- 39 stances are peculiar to St. Mark's Gospel. 1st, The parable of the growing seed (iv. 26-29). 2nd, The deaf and dumb man (vii. 31-37). 3rd, The blind man 4th, The account of

at Bethsaida cured (viii. 22-24).
the young man who had a linen cloth round his naked
body (xiv. 51).

St. Luke and his Gospel.-The life of Luke, the phy- 40 sician, and companion of Paul, is also incorporated in the second part of the present volume (see Index). The time and place of his writing his Gospel is uncertain, but it is probable that he composed it at Cæsarea, and was assisted in it by the apostle Paul, during his imprisonment in that city (Acts, sect. 597).

Its scope, object, and style.—Luke wrote his Gospel 41 primarily for Theophilus, and especially for the use of Gentile converts, in order to guard them against certain

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4.

doubtful histories of our Saviour then in circulation (comp. Luke i. 1-5). His peculiarities are these. 1. His general agreement with those doctrines more prominently set forth by the apostle Paul. 2. His insertion of many noble parables not found in the other evangelists. 3. The introduction of the discourses of our Saviour according to their special occasions, whilst in Matthew they are rather put together in masses. The noticeable circumstance, that in several observations of our Lord, the connecting link appears to be lost, (Luke viii. 16; xi. 33; xii. 1,) which, however, becomes visible on a deeper inspection; a fact which is no small proof of the credibility of the inspired author, since no other would have purposely made the narrative so difficult to himself and his readers. Luke, in comparison with the other evangelists, writes a purer Greek, and his sentences are more carefully rounded.

Facts peculiar to St. Luke.-The following circumstances are mentioned by St. Luke only. 1st, The birth of John the Baptist (i. 5—25, 57—66). 2nd, The Roman census in Judæa (ii. 1—4). 3rd, Peculiar circumstances at Christ's birth, and appearance of the angel to the shepherds (ii. 4-20). 4th, Testimony of Simeon and Anna (ii. 21—38). 5th, Christ with the doctors (ii. 39-52.) 6th, Our Lord's pedigree through Mary (iii. 23-38). 7th, Raising of the widow's son at Nain (vii. 11-17). 8th, Parable of the good Samaritan (x. 25-37). 9th, The barren fig-tree (xiii. 6-10). 10th, Restoration of the infirm woman (xiii. 11-17). 11th, Healing of the man with the dropsy (xiv. 1—6). 12th, Parable of the Prodigal Son (xv. 11—32). Parable of Lazarus and Dives (xvi. 19-31). 14th, Healing of the ten lepers (xvii. 12-19). 15th, Parable of the Pharisee and Publican (xviii. 9—14). 16th, The zeal of Zaccheus (xix. 1-10). 17th, Parable of

13th,