ble to have written without having sometimes erred. Sensible of this, he wishes to be corrected, being persuaded that truth alone ought to be the aim of an interpreter of the sacred volume.

1

From the very favourable reception which the former edition of this Work has met with, and the opinion which the best judges have been pleased to form of it, the author thinks himself warranted to consider his plan of the Harmony as just. This, joined with his desire to oblige those who wish to see the Paraphrase and Commentary completed, induced him, with the utmost care and accuracy, to finish his design. In this new edition, therefore, the reader will find the whole Gospels, without the omission of a single sentence, paraphrased and commented upon, in such a manner as to explain them to the meanest capacity. And farther, to render the Work as extensively useful as possible, there are now added six discourses of Jewish antiquities; one chronological dissertation; a discourse concerning the regard that is due to opinions derived merely from tradition; and an essay on the demoniacs.

"

These, it is presumed, will be peculiarly acceptable, as they throw great light upon the history of our Lord in general, as well as upon many passages of it in particular. In short, it is hoped that the book will now be found a complete history of the life of Christ, and an accurate explication of his sermons, parables, conversations and miracles; which, together with the indexes, is peculiarly adapted to assist those who desire to study the Gospels with diligence and accuracy.

In this study every Christian ought to employ himself, seeing it is universally acknowledged, that the Gospels contain the immutable laws of God, by which men ought to govern their lives here, and by which they will be judged hereafter.

THE

THE

CONTENTS OF THE FIRST PART.

PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS.

CONCE

ÖNCERNING the words and phrases which the in-

spired writers have made use of,

Concerning the facts, and circumstances of facts, which the

inspired writers have mentioned,

Concerning the order observed, and the connections used by

the sacred writers in their histories,

Concerning the similar particulars occurring in the sacred

history,

Concerning the knowledge of antiquity necessary for under-

standing the sacred writings,

Of the regard that is due to opinions derived merely from

tradition,

Of the books of the gospels,

Chap. 1. Of the order in which the gospels were pub-

lished.

2. Of the time when the gospels were written.

3. Of the plan upon which the gospels were

composed.

4. Of the persons by whom the gospels were

written.

Concerning the credibility of the gospel-history,

CHRONOLOGICAL DISSERTATIONS.

Of the taxing, Luke ii. 1.

Of Herod's death,

L

Of the 15th of Tiberius, and of our Lord's age at his bap→

tism,

JEWISH ANTIQUITIES.

Obs.

1

Of the sects of the Jews,

Chap. 1. Of the sects in general.

2

3

4

5

6

Diss. 1

2

Of the commencement of John Baptist's ministry, and of

Pilate's procuratorship in Judea,

4

·

Of the time spent in building the temple mentioned John ii. 20. 5

Of the day whereon Jesus celebrated the last passover in his

ministry,

6

3

Bise. 1

Chap. 2. Of the Pharisees in particular.

3. Of the Sadducees.

4. Of the Herodians and others.

5. Reflections.

Of the city Sychar, mentioned John iv. 5.

Of the Samaritans,

Concerning the eastern buildings,

Concerning the eastern habits,

Of the soil of Palestine,

Of the climate and vegetables of Syria,

Of the manners and customs, &c. of the Easterns,

Of the animals mentioned in Scripture,

Essay on the Demoniacs mentioned in the gospels,

Explanation of the Harmony,

Scheme of the two transpositions,

The HARMONY,

BEING THE

PARAPHRASE AND COMMENTARY.

HE reasons which induced Luke to write his gospel,

are

The angel Gabriel appears to Zacharias in the temple, and

foretels the conception and birth of John Baptist,

Gabriel appears to the Virgin Mary,

CONTENTS OF THE SECOND PART,

John is circumcised. Zacharias has the use of his speech

restored,

Disc.

Our Lord's genealogy by his supposed father. See § 16.

An angel appears to Joseph, and commands him to take home

his wife,

The edict for taxing Judea. Jesus is born in Bethlehem,

Angels appear to the shepherds of Bethlehem,

Jesus is circumcised in Bethlehem, and about a month after

that is presented in the temple,

The Eastern Magi arrive at Jerusalem,

The infants of Bethlehem are killed. Herod dies, and Joseph

returns from Egypt,

The history of Christ's childhood and private life,

9

Pag.

170

181

184

185

The gospel begins to be preached. The mission, cha-

racter, preaching, and reception of John Baptist,

Jesus is baptized in Jordan. The Holy Spirit descends up-

on him,

Jesus begins his ministry. His genealogy by his mother.

See § 6.

Jesus is tempted of the devil in the wilderness,

Messengers from the senate in Jerusalem come to John at

Bethabara,

Jesus and his disciples return from Bethabara into Galilee,

and are present at the marriage in Cana. Jesus goes up

to Jerusalem to the passover.

FIRST PASSOver.

Jesus drives the traders out of the temple. Foretels his

own sufferings and resurrection the first time, see § 70. and

converses with Nicodemus,

From Jerusalem Jesus goes into the country of Judea, and

baptizes,

Jesus converses with a woman of Samaria,

Jesus goes to Cana, where he cures a nobleman's son that

was lying sick in Capernaum,

Jesus goes to Nazareth, but is rejected by his couutrymen,

and expelled out of their town,

Jesus settles at Capernaum, then calls his disciples to attend

him, and makes a tour with them through Galilee,

At the conclusion of his first tour through Galilee, Jesus

preaches the sermon on the mount,

-

Jesus having come down from the mountain, cleanses a leper

in his way to Capernaum,

Jesus goes into Capernaum, and cures a centurion's son.

See 39.

Jesus cures a demoniac in the synagogue of Capernaum, and

heals Peter's mother-in-law. He cures many diseases,

and casts out many demons. Then makes a second tour

through Galilee,

The first miraculous draught of fishes.

Jesus makes a third

tour through Galilee, and cures another leper,

Jesus with his disciples crosses the lake. They are caught

in a storm, which Jesus by miracle turns into a calm,

Jesus cures the demoniacs of Gadara,

On his return to Capernaum Jesus cures a paralitic, who was

let down through the roof of the house,

Jesus calls Matthew from the receipt of custom near Caper-

naum; and reasons in defence of his disciples, who are

blamed for not fasting after the example of the Pharisees, 34

b

The

30

31

32

33

The woman who had the flux of blood is cured in the street

of Capernaum: And in the same town Jairus's daughter

is raised from the dead,

-

Jesus cures two blind men and expels a demon. The Pha-

risees ascribe his miracles to Beelzebub,

Sect.

35

SECOND PASSOVER.

The infirm man at Bethesda is cured,

After the second possover, the disciples pluck the ears of corn

on the Sabbath, in some field nigh to Jerusalem,

A few days after the second passover, a man that had his

hand withered, is cured in a synagogue near Jerusalem.

After which Jesus goes away to Galilee,

The Pharisees in Capernaum ascribe Christ's miracles a se-

cond time to Beelzebub. See § 35, 36. 86. He con-

futes that calumny. They ask the sign from heaven the

first time. See § 68. 86. The sign of the prophet Jonas

promised the first time. See § 68. Our Lord's mother

and brethren visit him. See § 53. 57.

Jesus preaches the parabolical sermon beside the sea of Ga-

36

Jesus makes a fourth tour through Galilee. He chuses
twelve of his disciples to attend on him constantly. The

names and history of the twelve apostles,

Jesus preaches the sermon on the plain,

Jesus cures a centurion's slave in Capernaum,

The apostles receive their commission and instructions in

Capernaum. See $58.

40

42

Jesus goes to Nain, and raises a widow's son from the dead, 41

John Baptist sends messengers to Jesus. They find him at

Capernaum. Jesus vindicates the Baptist's character,

Jesus dines with Simon the Pharisee in Capernaum, see
§ 87.92. and at table is anointed with fragrant oil
the first time, See § 110. 125.

Pious women supply Jesus with money, and accompany him

to the passover,

37

38

39

43

44

45

4.6

47

48

50

lilee. The parable of the sower. The reason why he
taught the people by parables. The interpretation of the
parable of the sower. The parable of the lighted lamp, 49

The parable of the tares of the field,

The parable of the seed that sprang up imperceptibly,

The parable of the grain of mustard-seed. See § 90.

The parable of the leaven. See § 90. Our Lord's mother

comes to him a second time. See § 48.

51

52

The parable of the tares explained. See § 50.

The parables of the treasure hid in a field, and of the mer-

chants seeking precious pearls,

53

54

55

The