The Four Gospels

SECTION V. The Nomination of Apostles.-Ch. vi. 12, etc. vii. 1-35.
Jesus selects his twelve apostles: afterwards, attended by a great multitude,
teaches who are truly happy; that we ought to love all men, and do good
to all, enemies not excepted: warns against uncharitableness in judging
others; partiality in judging ourselves. The evidence that a man is good,
is his actions, not his professions; the insignificancy of the latter without

the former. Jesus cures a centurion's servant. At Nain restores to life a

widow's son. John's message to Jesus. Testimony of Jesus concerning

John. The people's opinion of both,

SECTION VI. Signal Miracles and Instructions.-Ch. vii. 36, etc. viii. ix. 1-17.

A woman of a bad life annoints the feet of Jesus in the house of a Pharisee;

whom, being scandalized at his permitting it, Jesus instructs in the extent

of divine mercy, and its happy consequences; travels about, teaching and

warning in cities and villages, attended by the twelve and some pious wo-

men. The parable of the sower. Reason for using parables :-the expla-

nation. A lamp not lighted but to enlighten. Knowledge not given but

to be communicated. Who are considered by Jesus as his dearest relatives.

He embarks-meets with a tempest-stills it by a word-lands-cures the

demoniac who had the legion, and a woman of a bloody issue. The daugh-

ter of Jairus restored to life. Jesus sends the twelve, empowering them to

cure diseases. Herod's doubts concerning Jesus. Jesus feeds 5000 in the

desert,
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SECTION VII. The Transfiguration.-Ch. ix. 18, etc. v.
Different opinions concerning Jesus. Peter acknowledges him to be the Mes-
siah. Jesus foretells his own death and resurrection. All who would be

followers, must prepare for suffering. Jesus transfigured in the presence

of Peter and Zebedee's sons-cures a demoniac-again foretells that he

will be delivered to his enemies. Humility the road to preferment in the

reign of heaven. The meanest disciple not to be despised. The services

of those who do not accompany the apostles not to be rejected. Jesus sets

out for Jerusalem-is refused admittance into a Samaritan city on the road.

The vindictive proposal of two disciples rejected by their Master, with a

severe reprimand to the proposers. Those who would follow Jesus, must

do it at all hazards, and without delay. The mission of the Seventy. The

aggravation of the guilt of those who, though they had enjoyed the minis-

try of Jesus and seen his miracles, remained impenitent. The return and

report of the Seventy. Jesus is consulted by a lawyer, as to what must

be done to obtain eternal life. He explains by the parable of the humane

Samaritan, the meaning of neighbor. In the example of Martha and her

sister Mary, we are taught what is the most important pursuit,
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SECTION VIII. The Character of the Pharisees.—Ch. xi. xii.

Jesus gives his disciples a model of prayer-enjoins importunity- cures a

dumb demoniac-refutes the plea of the Pharisees, that by the aid of de-

mons he expelled demons-points out the true happiness of man. Jonah

the only sign that would be granted to that generation: their obduracy

and folly contrasted to the penitence of the Ninevites and the Queen of

Sheba's love of wisdom. A Pharisee, at whose house Jesus dines, scan-

dalized at his not washing his hands before dinner. Jesus reproaches the

Scribes and Pharisees, with being more solicitous about cleansing the out-

side than the inside; with exactness in things of little moment, whilst

they neglected things of the greatest; with affecting pre-eminence in every

thing; with hypocrisy; with imposing burdens on others, from which

they kept themselves free; with persecuting the prophets when living,

and pretending to honor them when dead; with obstructing the people's

entry into the kingdom of God. He warns his disciples of their danger-

ous doctrine-fortifies them against the dread of their power-reminds them

of the care of Providence-and of the greatness of their future recompense.

The danger of apostacy; and of detracting from the Holy Spirit. Warn-

ing against covetousness, from the example of a rich fool who exulted in

his stores, and knew not that he had not a day to live against anxiety.

Incitements to vigilance and activity. The doctrine of Jesus the occasion

of contention and division. Men attentive and judicious in temporal affairs,

often careless and injudicious in spiritual concerns,

SECTION IX. The Nature of the Kingdom.-Ch. xiii. xiv.

Sudden and violent deaths not evidences of greater guilt in individuals, but

general warnings to reformation. The similitude of the barren fig-tree.

An infirm woman cured on the Sabbath. The similitude of the grain of

mustard-seed; and of the leaven. Salvation demands our utmost vigilance

and exertion. In spite of Herod's designs upon him, Jesus would go about

safely for a short time, and then finish his course at Jerusalem. His lamen-

tation over that impenitent and devoted city. A dropsical man cured in a

Pharisee's house on the Sabbath. A warning against forwardness and

vanity. Admonition to entertain the needy rather than the wealthy.

Parable of the supper to which the invited refused to come. The neces

sity of deliberation before we engage in the Messiah's service, illustrated

from the example of a prudent builder, and of a king at war,

SECTION X. Parables.-Ch. xv. xvi.

The lost sheep. The lost drachma. The prodigal son. The unjust but

provident steward. The use men make of temporal things here, marks

their fitness for the trust of spiritual things hereafter. Admonitions against

avarice; hypocrisy; reliance on the judgment of men; against divorce.

The utmost exertion requisite to secure a place in the kingdom of heaven.

The rich man and Lazarus,

SECTION XI. Instructions and Warnings.-Ch. xvii. xviii. xix. 1-27.

Nothing more dangerous than to insnare. The method of treating an offend-
ing brother. The power of faith. Obedience to the Creator, gives no

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claim on his favor. The cure of ten lepers, of whom only one, a Samari-

tan, proves grateful. The reign of God not introduced with outward

show. The coming to judgment sudden and unexpected, like the deluge,

and the destruction of Sodom. That disciple is fortified against danger

who prefers his Master to every earthly thing. The parable of the impor-

tunate widow and the unjust judge. The devotions of the Pharisee and of

the publican compared. The people encouraged to bring their children to

Jesus. What must be done to obtain eternal life. How far the desire of

perfection would lead us. Riches a great obstacle to men's admission into

the kingdom. The reward of them who abandon any thing for Jesus.

His death and resurrection foretold. The cure of a blind beggar. The

conversion of Zaccheus. The parable of the pounds,

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SECTION XII. The Entry into Jerusalem.-Ch. xix. 28, etc. xx. xxi. 1—4.

Jesus rides into the city on an ass, the multitude accompanying him with

shouts-laments the obduracy of the city, and foretells its fate-drives the

traffickers out of the temple-silences the chief priests and others who

questioned his authority. The parable of the husbandmen who ill-treated

and killed their landlord's messengers-foretells the rejection of the Jews,

and the admission of the Gentiles into the church-eludes the craft of the

Pharisees, who question him on the lawfulness of paying tribute to Cæsar

-vindicates the resurrection against the Sadducees-puzzles the Pharisees

about the meaning of an expression in the Psalms-warns his hearers

against the vanity and arrogance of the Scribes-teaches that charity is to

be rated more by the ability of the giver than by the greatness of the

gift,
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SECTION XIII. The Last Supper.-Ch. xxi. 5, etc. xxii. 1-53.

The destruction of the temple foretold. The calamities by which it would

be preceded. The signs that judgment is nigh. The punishment of the

wicked will prove the deliverance of the saints. The need of unremitted

vigilance. The rulers consult together about putting Jesus to death. Judas

sells him to them. Jesus eats the passover with his disciples-institutes the

commemoration of his death-acquaints them of the treachery of one of

them-assures them that, in his reign, humility and usefulness will prove

the only genuine honor-foretells the transgression of Peter, and some of

the calamities to which they were soon to be exposed. The agony on

Mount Olivet. He is seized by an armed multitude conducted by Judas-

heals the high priest's servant, whose ear had been cut off by one of the

apostles,

SECTION XIV. The Crucifixion.-Ch. xxii. 54, etc. xxiii. 1-49.

Jesus is brought to the high-priest's house-denied by Peter-abused by the

servants-tried by the Sanhedrim, and condemned-consigned to the Ro-

man procurator, before whom they accuse him of sedition and rebellion.

Pilate, not convinced, sends him to Herod, then at Jerusalem. Herod, dis-

appointed of seeing him perform miracles, derides him, and remands him to

Pilate. Pilate, perceiving his innocence, tries in vain to save him, on

pretence of granting him to the prayer of the people, accustomed to obtain

the release of a prisoner at the passover; but they and their rulers obstinate-

ly demand the crucifixion of Jesus, and the release of Barabbas, impris-

oned for sedition and murder. Pilate reluctantly consents to gratify them.

Jesus led to Calvary, the cross carried by Simon a Cyrenian-is followed

by some female disciples, who lament him-is nailed to the cross between

two malefactors-prays for his enemies-is insulted by all ranks. One of

the malefactors joins in insulting him, and is rebuked by the other. Jesus

promises paradise to the penitent criminal. The death of Jesus, attended

with such prodigies as confound the centurion and other spectators,

SECTION XV. The Resurrection.-Ch. xxiii. 50, etc. xxiv.
The body of Jesus given to Joseph of Arimathea, who deposites it in his own
sepulchre. The resurrection of Jesus announced by angels to some pious
women at the sepulchre. These report it to the disciples. Peter hastens to

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the sepulchre, where he finds nothing but the linen. Jesus appears to two

disciples on the way to Emmaus. He appears to Peter, and afterwards to

the eleven. He eats with them, and shows them from the Scriptures the

necessity of his death and resurrection; commissions them to preach his

doctrine, after the instructions they were soon to receive from the Holy

Spirit; leads them out to Bethany; and, having blessed them, ascends into

SECTION I. The Incarnation. Ch. i.

THE pre-existence, divinity, and creative exertion of the Word. The light of
the world. The end of John's mission. The reception of the Word among
God's ancient people. The word incarnate, the interpreter of God, the
fountain of grace and truth to men, visits the earth. The Baptist's testi-
mony concerning himself; concerning the Messiah, whom God had indica-
ted to him by a visible token. Two of John's disciples, induced by their
Master's testimony, follow Jesus. Others also called by Jesus,

SECTION II. The Entrance on the Ministry.-Ch. ii. iii.

Jesus turns water into wine at a marriage in Cana; goes to Jerusalem; drives

the traffickers out of the temple; silences those who questioned his authori-

ty; makes many converts, but not all worthy of confidence; is visited se-

cretly by Nicodemus, a magistrate, with whom he converses on regenera-

tion, faith, and fortitude in the cause of truth. Jesus retires into the coun-

try; employs his disciples in baptizing: this is reported to John, who gives

his testimony of Jesus, exalting his mission and personal dignity much

above his own,

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SECTION III. The Journey to Galilee.—Ch. iv.

Jesus, near Sychar of Samaria, enters into conversation with a Samaritan

woman discovers himself to her to be the Messiah. The disciples, who

had gone into the city to buy food, are surprised to find them conversing

together. He acquaints his disciples, that to do the work for which he was

sent, was to him as food; goes into the city; stays two days, making many

converts: returns to Galilee; heals the courtier's son who lay sick at Ca-

pernaum,
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SECTION IV. The Cure at Bethesda.-Ch. v.

The supernatural cures wrought at Bethesda by the agitation of the water.

A diseased man who lay there, waiting such a cure, healed on the Sabbath

by Jesus, who commanded him to carry home his couch. Hence some al-

tercation of the Jews,-first with the man-afterwards with Jesus. Jesus al-

leges the example of his Father, from whom he derives both the power where-

by he acts, and the wisdom wherewith he teaches. His mission proved by

-1. the testimony of John; 2. the miracles he wrought; 3. the decla-

ration of the Father at his baptism; 4. the Jewish Scriptures,

SECTION V. The People fed in the Desert.-Ch. vi. vii. 1.

Jesus feeds five thousand miraculously in the desert. While his disciples
embark, he retires from the multitude, who intend by force to make him
their king. The night being stormy, he follows his disciples, walking on
the sea; enters their vessel, which immediately reaches the intended port;
instructs the people who flock about him, as to the object most worthy of
their labor; declares himself the bread of life, the source of spiritual nour-
ishment and comfort, prefigured by the manna which the Israelites ate in
the desert. His language, so strongly metaphorical, proves unintelligible
to many, and makes not a few withdraw altogether. Jesus having asked

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The Four Gospels: Tr. from the Greek, with Preliminary ..., Volumen1