The cottager's guide to the New Testament

The 12th, 13th, and 14th relate the ministry of John the Baptist, (which began in the year 26, according to our common way of counting years,) and carry it on until Christ's baptism.

The 15th portion relates the baptism of Jesus; which took place in the year 27: from this to the 19th portion we hear of him in public but not yet at Jerusalem.

In the 20th and 21st portions we hear of Jesus for the first time at JERUSALEM: from this time His ministry may be said to begin,-John's having ceased about the same period, as related in the 22nd portior..

Jesus then went through SAMARIA to CANA and NAZARET: from whence being driven away, He took up his abode in CaPERNAUM.-Portions 23rd to 26th.

At Capernaum he performed many miracles, and then took a missionary journey all round the country of GALILEE, preaching the Gospel. On returning from this Journey to CAPERNAUM He delivered his Sermon on the Mount.-This occupies from portions 27th to 42nd, and closes the first volume.

VOLUME II.

Jesus remained at Capernaum until the next Passover; which took place on the 29th of March, in the year 28.-After attending this Feast, he returned immediately afterwards to CAPERNAUM.-Portions 43rd to 49th.

In the 50th portion we hear of his making another journey in the country of GALILEE, in order to publish the Gospel; but it wss not so general a preaching as in the former missionary journey. And on his return he ordained the twelve Apostles; and then preached another sermon, besides doing various miracles. From 51st to 54th portions.

Jesus then went to NAIN, where several important matters occured. From the 55th to the 59th portions.

After this he took another missionary journey in GALILEE ending it at CAPERNAUM; where he then continued for some time, during which he preached his sermon in parables.-From the 60th to the 75th portions.

In consequence of the great inconvenience which he suffered from the crowds who always followed him, Jesus now for the first

time went out of the Jewish country. He passed the lake of Gennesaret and went to GADARA, but returned without delay to CAPERNAUM:-Portions 76th to 78th. We find him at that place in the 79th and 80th portions; and in the 81st we hear of his paying a visit to his former town of Nazareth. closes the second volume.

VOLUME III.

This

Jesus then sent forth his Apostles two by two, and also went himself upon a third general missionary journey to GALILEE, early in the year 29..-Portions 82nd and 83rd. And on returning to CAPERNAUM, he was informed of the wicked conduct of King Herod.-Portion 84th.

This induced him to leave the Jewish country a second time, and he went to the country of DECAPOLIS; where he miraculously fed the people who followed him.-Portions 85th and

86th.

He returned, however, to Capernaum; and we find him there from the 89th to the 91st portions. Then, the malice of his enemies being very much increased, in order to avoid them he left the Jewish country for the third time, and went into the neighbourhood of TYRE and SIDON, and from thence to DECAPOLIS ; where he again fed the crowd miraculously, on the same spot where he had done so before -Portions 92nd to 94th.

Jesus returned to the Jewish side of the lake, (Portion 95th,) but finding immediately the opposition of the Pharisees strong against him, He went back again to DECAPOLIS, that he might be beyond the country where they had power. This is the fourth time he left the Jewish land.-Portions 96th and 97th.

While in DECAPOLIS, Peter in the name of all the Apostles made his acknowledgment that Jesus was the Christ, and from this time our Lord spoke more plainly to them concerning His Kingdom. Portions 98th and 99th.

Jesus returned through GALILEE; and in his way he was transfigured on MOUNT TABOR.-Portion 100th. He then proceeeded to CAPERNAUM, where we find him during the remainder of the third volume. From the 100th to the 109th portions.

From this general view of the first two years and a half, it appears that our Lord began his ministry at Jerusalem, withou

however remaining there. That he returned only once during that time to Jerusalem, at the Passover which followed that at which he began to preach: the next Passover after that occured when he was absent from the Jewish country, and he did not attend it. It appears also, that he fixed his principal residence at Capernaum: from whence he went forth upon three different missionary journies, all over the country of Galilee. Besides this he made some shorter visits, not in so general a manner : and that upon four different occasions, he found himself under the necessity of leaving the Jewish country where his enemies had power; the first of which occured after he had lived at Capernaum about eighteen months, and the following about six months afterwards.

These notes of time and places connected with the events of our Lord's life, if they be thought upon and remembered, will be found very useful in bringing the whole account of his ministry to mind. May it please God to employ them to the benefit of all who read this book, so that it may tend to the glory of the great name of our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

A statement of the PLACES at which the events related in the several portions occurred; and of the TIME at which the principal circumstances happened.

PORTION

VOLUME I.

PLACE

TIME

Year before the common calculation of the years

of our Lord.

YEAR