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necessarily exhibit a certain degree of likeness, they nevertheless bear also each for itself the stamp of independence.

The four writers vary likewise in their chronological character. On the one hand, it appears, that Mark and John, who have little in common, follow with few exceptions the regular and true order of the events and transactions recorded by them; as may be more fully seen at the close of the Introduction to the Notes. On the other hand, Matthew and Luke manifestly have sometimes not so much had regard to chronological order, as they have been guided by the principle of association; so that in them, transactions having certain relations to each other are not seldom grouped together, though they may have happened at different times and in various places.

Some other diversities in the character and manner of the Evangelists, are pointed out in the Introduction to the Notes.

In view of the preceding considerations, it follows, that in order to obtain a full and consecutive account of all the facts of our Lord's life and ministry, the four Gospel-narratives must be so brought together, as to present as nearly as possible the true chronological order; and, where the same transaction is described by more than one writer, the different accounts must be placed side by side, so as to fill out and supply each other. Such an arrangement affords the only full and perfect survey of all the testimony relating to any and every portion of our Lord's history. In this way alone can be brought out and distinctly presented the mutual connection and dependency of the various parts, and the gradual development and completion of the great plan of redemption, so far as it was manifested in the life and ministry, the death and resurrection, of our Lord Jesus Christ. Yet without such a survey, our knowledge on all these great topics can only be fragmentary and partial.

To afford just the aid here proposed, is the object of a Har mony of the Gospels; and by this consideration I have been governed in preparing such a work both in Greek and in English. Other uses and advantages, as also the particular objects aimed at in the present volume, are specified near the close of the Introduction to the Notes.

In all the preceding particulars, a Harmony in English is not less useful and important than one in Greek. It is mainly in respect to the verbal parallelisms of the sacred writers, that a comparison in the original language is of greater weight. These of course often disappear in a translation.

In a work of this kind, no great amount of novelty can be expected, on subjects which have more or less occupied the ablest minds of the Church during many centuries. Yet even here, knowledge has not been stationary. In a course of years, and especially within the last half century, there has been great progress in the observation and discovery of new facts and circumstances bearing upon both the social and physical history of the Hebrews and other ancient nations. These all serve to enlarge the circle of Biblical knowledge; and they often shed light on topics which before were dark or doubtful. The accumulated facts and results of this progress, it is the duty of the Harmonist to apply to the elucidation of the narratives of the four Evangelists. This I have attempted to do in the present, as well as in my former work; and have endeavoured every where faithfully to judge and write, according to the impressions left upon my mind by a personal inspection of most of the scenes of the Gospel history.

The Sections, and the general arrangement of the Text in this volume, are the same as in the Greek Harmony. The notation of place is every where given; and may be regarded as a not unimportant feature of the work.

The Notes are for the most part those appended to the Greek Harmony, with such curtailments, additions, and changes, as seemed advisable in order to adapt them to the reader acquainted only with the English tongue. In using the Notes, I would particularly request the reader to search out all the scriptural refer. ences; inasmuch as very often they alone contain the evidence on which particular statements rest.

In the Text, I have inserted in two places (Matth. 6, 1. John 5, 2) the marginal reading of the English Version, for the reasons assigned in the Notes, and in accordance with all critical authority at the present day. In a few instances, a merely expletive word, added by the translators in Italic, has been silently dropped.

My hope is, that this little work may be found useful to those who love and seek the truth, in their closets, in families, in Sabbath Schools and Bible Classes. If it shall thus aid in extending the knowledge and influence of God's Holy Word, the object of my labours and prayers will be accomplished.

UNION THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY,
New-York, July, 1846.

EDWARD ROBINSON.

NOTE. The only point in the order of time, in which this work differs from the Greek Harmony, is in respect to our Lord's arrival at Bethany "six days before the passover," and the chronology of the passion week. In this I was formerly misled one day, by relying too implicitly upon the authority of the learned Lightfoot.

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18. Testimony of John the Baptist to Jesus.-Bethabara beyond Jordan 19. Jesus gains Disciples.-The Jordan. Galilee?

20. The Marriage at Cana of Galilee

PART III.

OUR LORD'S FIRST PASSOVER, and the SUBSEQUENT TRANSACTIONS

UNTIL THE SECOND.

TIME: One year.

Page.

12

13

14

14

15

21. At the Passover Jesus drives the Traders out of the Temple.-Jeru

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23. Jesus remains in Judea and baptizes. Further testimony of John the Baptist

17

24. Jesus departs into Galilee after John's imprisonment

18

25. Our Lord's discourse with the Samaritan woman. Many of the Samaritans believe on him.-Shechem or Neapolis

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26. Jesus teaches publicly in Galilee

27. Jesus again at Cana, where he heals the son of a Nobleman lying ill at Capernaum.-Cana of Galilee

28. Jesus at Nazareth; he is there rejected, and fixes his abode at Caper

naum

29. The call of Simon Peter and Andrew, and of James and John, with
the miraculous draught of fishes-Near Capernaum

30. The healing of a Demoniac in the Synagogue.—Capernaum
31. The healing of Peter's wife's mother, and many others.-Capernaum
32. Jesus with his Disciples goes from Capernaum throughout Galilee.
33. The healing of a Leper.-Galilee

34. The healing of a Paralytic.-Capernaum

35. The call of Matthew.-Capernaum

PART IV.

OUR LORD'S SECOND PASSOVER, and the SUBSEQUENT TRANSACTIONS

UNTIL THE THIRD.

TIME: One year.

36. The Pool of Bethesda; the healing of the infirm man; and our Lord's subsequent discourse.-Jerusalem

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37 The Disciples pluck ears of grain on the Sabbath.-On the way to Galilee?

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