AN

EXPLANATION

OF THE

HARMONY.

THAT the reader may understand the method according to which the several texts are disposed in the following Harmony, let him turn to page 188, where about the middle he will find in the fourth column on the margin, the names Mark, Luke, Matthew; and opposite to these names, passages of their several gospels. These passages are included between two short black lines; the intention of which is to signify, that the passages are parallel to each other, and that they are compared together. The first and second lines of the evangelist Mark being printed so as to range with the second and third lines of Luke, and with the second and third lines of Matthew, it signifies that these lines of the several evangelists, contain parallel expressions of the same sentiment, as any one will see by reading them. The third line of Mark being printed so as to range with the first line of Luke, and with the first line of Matthew, it signifies that they also are parallel expressions. The fourth line of Mark being printed so as to range with the fourth line of Luke, and with the fourth line of Matthew, it signifies that they likewise are parallel expressions. With the fourth line of Matthew, this particular comparison ends; as is signified by the short black line drawn below it. And therefore a new comparison of parallel expressions begins in the immediately subsequent passage.

If the reader will cast his eye on the comparison immediate. ly preceding that in pag. 188. which I have been explaining, he will find only one line of Mark's gospel, and that printed so as to range with the third line of Luke immediately above it. This signifies that these two are parallel expressions. And the first and second lines of Luke having nothing corresponding to them in Mark, are therefore singular, and peculiar to Luke.

If the reader will turn his eye upwards to the passage, which, in the same page of the Harmony, immediately precedes the last mentioned comparison, he will find in the fourth marginal column, lumn, between the lines of comparison, the name of Luke only. This signifies that the passage between these lines is singular, and peculiar to Luke; or that there is nothing corresponding to it in the other gospels.

The end of a section is marked by the last line of comparison in the section running quite across the page. Thus, p. 188. the section from which the above examples are taken, ends a little from the bottom of the page with Luke iii. 20. as is signified by the line of comparison being drawn quite across the page to the inside margin.

The chapters and verses of the several evangelists to which every passage in this harmony belongs, are distinctly marked in three or four columns on the margin; the chapters for the most part only once in each column, namely, opposite to the passage of that particular evangelist first occurring in the page; but the verses in their order opposite to the passages as they come in. The first column contains the chapters and verses of Matthew, the second those of Mark, the third those of Luke, and the fourth, when it occurs, those of John. For as John does not relate many of the particulars found in the rest, the column peculiar to him is frequently dropt; and the passage of his gospel last mentioned in the Harmony, is marked at the top of the columns, with a reference to the page where it comes in. See an example at the top of the columns in p. 188. But that the reader may more distinctly understand how the chapters and verses are marked in the marginal columns, let him look to the before mentioned 188th page of the Harmony, about the middle; where, opposite to the name Matthew, in the fourth column, and to the words, I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, is found in the first columa, the number 11, and at the top of the same column, towards the left hand, the figure 3. to signify that the words I indeed baptize you, &c. are the beginning of the 11th verse of the third chapter of Matthew. So likewise opposite to the words of the text which are marked in the fourth column with the name Mark, and which run thus, I indeed have baptized you with water, is found in the second marginal column the figure 8; and a little above it in the same column, but towards the left hand, the figure 1, to si signify that these words, I indeed have baptized you with water, are the beginning of the 8th verse of the first chapter of Mark. The words in the Harmony immediately preceding those last mentioned, viz. There cometh one mightier than I, &c, having no figure opposite to them, make part of the 7th verse of Mark, as is intimated by a a black stroke found in the verse's place in the column of Mark. The design therefore of those black strokes in the columns, is to direct the reader's eye upward to the number of the verse, and with the help of the verses to

enable him, by casting his eye along the column, readily to find the scattered members of any particular evangelist, whose ac count hè chuses to consider separately. A point below a verse in the column signifies, that it is the last verse of that particular chapter; yet the ending of the chapters is not always thus mark

ed.

In the preface, there is mention-made of three transpositions. These are distinctly pointed out in the Harmony by double lines in the marginal columns of the evangelist to whom these transpositions belong. Thus, pag. 190. the first transposition is made from Luke, and comes in after chap iv. 4. of that evangelist. Accordingly it is marked with a double line in the marginal column belonging to Luke. The beginning and ending of the transposition is marked by a black stroke crossing the marginal column at the place where the transposition begins and ends. Also the place from whence the transposition is taken, see p. 191. after Luke iv. 8. is marked in the column of Luke by a cross in this form +, with a reference opposite to it in Italic characters, directing to the page where it is inserted.

To conclude, that the Harmony might not swell to too great a bulk, the singular passages are not printed where they happen to be long, see pag. 192. opposite to John iv. 46. In like manner, if a singular passage makes a complete section, the first line of it only is printed, with a reference signifying where it ends. Thus, p. 185. the first section being a passage peculiar to Luke, the first line of it only with its reference is printed, and the end of the section is marked by the line of comparison which runs across the page. And so of all the rest.

:f

The

THE following is a SCHEME of that part of the HARMONY which com prehends the two transpositions. It consists of three columns only, John being dropt, because he does not mention the particulars transposed. In the first column, the facts mentioned by Matthew are represented in the order wherein he has related them; in the second, the facts mentioned by Mark are represented in the order which they hold in his history; in the third, the facts mentioned by Luke are represented in his order. The corresponding facts in the several gospels are distinguished by their being placed opposite to each other. The facts transposed into their true place, are printed in Italic letters, to signify that they are transposed. But the numbers which mark the order wherein they are related by the evangelists, are added at the end; and the reader, by looking to these numbers, will find the places which they actually hold in the gospels.

Matthew's order.

I John Baptist's ministry.

2. Jesus is baptized.

3. Jesus is tempted.

4. Jesus goes to Nazareth.

5 Jesus settles at Capernaum

6. Four disciples are called.

7. Sermon on the mount

8. The first leper is cured.

9. A centurion's son is cured.

11. Peter's wife's mother is cured.

14 The storm at sea, and the
cure of the demoniacs
15. The paralytic is cured.
16. Matthew is called, and the
disciples are vindicated.
47. The woman that had the flux
of blood, Jairus's daughter.

18. Two blind men are cured,
and a devil is dispossessed.

fo. An unclean spirit is cast out, 10. An unclean spirit is castout.
11. Peter'swife's mother is cured. 11. Pcter's wife's motheris cured.
12. Fishesare caught by miracles
13 The second leper is cured.
14. The storm at sea, and the
cure of the demoniacs (30).
15. The paralytic is cured.
16. Matthew is called.

13. The second leper is cured.
14. The storm at sea, and the
cure of the demoniacs (30).

15. The paralytic is cured.
16. Matthew is called, and the
disciples are vindicated.
17. The woman that bad the
flux of blood. Jairus's L
L daughter (31).

17. The woman that bad the flux of blood.-Jairai's daughter (31)

corn plucked,

19. Ears of and

19. Ears of corn plucked,
the withered and cured (27))
25. Twelve apostles are chosen.

(27. Ears of cornare plucked, and
the witbered band is cured(19)
28. Calumny of the Pharisees.
29. Parables of the sower, &c.
30. The storm at sea, and the 7
cure of the demoniacs (14).
31. The woman that had the
flux of blood -Jairus's
daughter (17).

J

and

the withered hand cured (27)

20. Twelve apostles are chosen.
21. Sermon on the plain.
22. A centurion's slave is cured.

24. Widow of Nain's son cured.

25. The Baptist sends messengers to Christ.

26. Jesus dines with Simon the Pharisee.

27. Ears of cornare plucked and the witheredbandi's cured(19)

29. Parables of the sower, &c. 30. The storm at sea, and the cure of the demoniacs (14.) 31. The woman that had the flux of blood.-Jairus's daughter (17)