The most serious objection to this mode of distributing the gospel history is, that by contrasting the minute particulars of a general relation of circumstances, a partial disagreement or seeming inconsistency is in various instances observed. These difficulties are generally explained and obviated by the notes at the end of this work. Some may possibly have escaped the notice of the editor; others he has left in the state they were found, from a fear of attempting to illustrate by conjecture, the records of the most interesting and important work ever delivered to mankind. Many sufficient reasons might be advanced why these occur, but as he finds it impossible to enter into an investigation comprehending so great an extent of inquiry, within the limits which he has prescribed for this | preface, he contents himself with quoting the judgment of the learned prelate whose plan he professes to follow. "The result of my thoughts and inquiries is, that every genuine proposition in scripture, whether doctrinal or historical, contains a truth when it is rightly understood; that the Evangelists conceived alike of the facts related by them, but sometimes place them in different lights, and make a selection from different circumstances accompanying them, and that their seeming variations would instantly vanish were the history known to us in its precise order and in all its circumstances."* A testimony, also, to the genuineness of the gospel history arises from trifling incongruities which are observed by means of a Harmony; namely, that the Evangelists did not write in concert. " Truth," said a late writer, "like honesty, often neglects appearances: hypocrisy and imposture are always guarded. * Newcome's Preface to his Greek Harmony. And, as from these seeming discordancies in their accounts, we may conclude they did not write in concert; so, from their agreeing in the principal and most material facts, we may infer that they wrote after the truth."* The duration of our Saviour's ministry, whether it ex, tended to three years or longer, or only one year, has been a question of much controversy; the former opinion is adopted by Newcome, and is implicitly followed in this Harmony, as is also his division of time. Those who wish to consult controversial writings on the former of these subjects, may peruse the printed correspondence between Newcome and Priestly, and Mann's Dissertations on the time of the birth and death of Christ. Though the exact reference of notes and quotations to their respective writers, is generally omitted, the editor is not aware that any are wrested from the sense which the authors intended they should convey. Several trifling alterations, unnecessary to be enumerated, have been adopted in the disposition of the text, and it is hoped, generally, to advantage. * West's Observations on the Resurrection, Sec. 25. Eych. 5-23-1927 14317 PREFACE. PREFATORY remarks on this publication are per. haps scarcely requisite. It may suffice to point out the utility of Harmonies in general, and to make a few addi tional observations on this Harmony. Their uses are considerable in various respects. By placing the narrations of similar circumstances, as related by the several Evangelists, in opposite columns, their deviations or additions are more readily observed, and more easily compared. Thus arranged, obscure passages are frequently illustrated by the sugges tion of a seemingly indifferent circumstance, and the de. ficiencies of one Evangelist are supplied by the more ample detail of another: by which means a full and connected history of our Saviour is framed; and the distinct phrase. ology and idiom of each of these sacred writers is more conspicuously displayed. It may also thus be observed, that John's gospel, as appears from his numerous additions and omissions, was intended as a sequel to the others and written after them; and that Mark, as is proved by his insertion of new matter, did not merely epitomise the gos. pel of Matthew. The most serious objection to this mode of distributing the gospel history is, that by contrasting the minute particulars of a general relation of circumstances, a partial disagreement or seeming inconsistency is in various instances observed. These difficulties are generally explained and obviated by the notes at the end of this work. Some may possibly have escaped the notice of the editor; others he has left in the state they were found, from a fear of attempting to illustrate by conjecture, the records of the most interesting and important work ever delivered to mankind. Many sufficient reasons might be advanced why these occur, but as he finds it impossible to enter into an investigation comprehending so great an extent of inquiry, within the limits which he has prescribed for this / preface, he contents himself with quoting the judgment of the learned prelate whose plan he professes to follow. "The result of my thoughts and inquiries is, that every genuine proposition in scripture, whether doctrinal or historical, contains a truth when it is rightly understood; that the Evangelists conceived alike of the facts related by them, but sometimes place them in different lights, and make a selection from different circumstances accompanying them, and that their seeming variations would instantly vanish were the history known to us in its precise order and in all its circumstances."* A testimony, also, to the genuineness of the gospel history arises from trifting incongruities which are observed by means of a Harmony; namely, that the Evangelists did not write in concert. " Truth," said a late writer, "like honesty, often neglects appearances: hypocrisy and imposture are always guarded. * Newcome's Preface to his Greek Harmony. |