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adds, ver. 31, to Matthew's account, that "Capernaum," at which place Jesus fixed to dwell, was a city of Galilee," and is then silent until Jesus began teaching and working miracles there (see ver. 31-.7, § xvii. p. 16). Matthew does not directly tell us that "Capernaum" was in " Galilee," but proceeds to shew that in fulfilment of prophecy, Jesus' dwelling-place was ' upon the sea coast,* in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim.” These tribeships being the one in the south, the other in the north of Galilee; about midway between both was Capernaum; so beautifully consistent and true, it may be seen, is the Geographical connection with the History. And Matthew, in accordance with the scope of his Gospel, which constantly proves Jesus to be HE of whom

Moses said unto the

children of Israel, A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear;" in ver. 14-.6 fully recognises and quotes almost the very words of the prophet, and alone gives a sufficient prominence to the truth of Jesus' mission, and in ver. 17 states how Jesus was employed: "From that time Jesus began to preach." Mark amplifies ver. 14, .5, and tells us that the subject of Jesus' preaching was "the gospel of the kingdom of God." Matthew adds, in ver. 17, "and to say, Repent." Mark again supplements the reason ver. 15, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand : repent ye, and believe the gospel."

To read this history in either of the Gospel Narratives without reference to the others, would be to satisfy ourselves with less of this brief biography than the "Spirit of God" in great condescension and mercy supplies.

Such an exercise as the above, in a catechumen, or sabbath school Bible class, would greatly advance scriptural knowledge; and the gratifying discovery and perception of the beautiful agreement, and purposed introduction of minute particulars, could not fail to induce a greater regard for the written word, and adoration of the Divine wisdom from which that word proceeded.

*The sea of Galilee being the only sea mentioned in the Gospel Narratives, we are thus presented with unintentional coincidence in the two Gospels.

THE GOSPEL NARRATIVES OF THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST, CONSIDERED AS THE BASIS OF GENERAL EDUCATION..

Although much care has been taken in the ritual of the established church to fix in the minds of the people the principal facts of the Gospel Narratives, and the sayings and doings of our Divine Redeemer are, there, continually brought to remembrance in the Gospel for the day, it may well be questioned, whether the record of our Lord's Life and Ministry has yet been sufficiently realized by the body of our people in connection therewith, or by the members of other sections of the Christian church, so as to enable them, with a clear understanding of the whole, to enter upon the devout consideration of the particular parts. The facts going before, and those that follow after, have frequently an important bearing upon the one brought immediately under consideration. The full knowledge of these facts is not supplied by any one Gospel, but has to be acquired by a careful comparison of all the four Evangelists, so as to allow one to supply what another lacks, and this both as to larger portions of the history, and as to words and sentences belonging to particular narratives or discourses.

God has seen meet to give us in the four Evangelists an exemplification of what we may frequently see in Christian society; the different members of which are expected to act in harmony, not by their all possessing the very same characteristics, or by their all performing the very same office, but by their combining their various powers, for their mutual assistance, in testifying of their One Lord and Head, under whom they are, as it were, different members of the same body. Thus it is with Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

MATTHEW more especially supplies us with such allusions to the Old Testament record, as serve to connect the Gospel History with preceding revelation:-to the didactic and prophetical portions of which the discourses and parables of our Lord, which also are so fully supplied by Matthew, may be regarded as affording a most valuable opening.

MARK presents us with the simple narrative of what our Lord did and suffered. His Gospel is as characterised by action, as Matthew's is full of discourse; Mark gives that example of active service, which springs from the Living Word, and which ought ever to accompany the exhibition of Scripture truth.

LUKE more particularly directs us to the manner in which strength for this service is acquired: it is as being much in prayerful communion with God, of which Jesus, as we find from Luke, afforded frequent example. This Evangelist also it is that especially teaches the manner of approach

to God. It is as repentant sinners, asking of his free mercy what we do not of ourselves deserve.

And finally, the Evangelist JOHN supplies us with those views of our Divine Redeemer, which give humble confidence in approaching the throne of grace. He places before us those glorious hopes which animate the soul of the believer, as reaching forward into the heavenly Rest. He more particularly shews, how, from the Fountain of the Godhead, opened in the humanity of the Son of God, we are privileged to derive that refreshment and strength which we require, as following THE LAMB WHITHERSOEVER HE GOETH."

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It is needful, thus, that we study well what is recorded, not only by one Evangelist, but by all the four; and that we, as much as possible, view them as forming one whole: and that we have the whole so treasured up in our memories, as readily to supply instruction, correction, direction, or consolation, according to the various circumstances in which we may be placed.

A knowledge of the facts contained in the Gospel History is most useful, not only for doctrinal and practical purposes, but for the elucidation and right application of all the other portions of Holy Scripture. The preceding History, whether of individuals or nations; whether of typical persons, or of those unto whom the promises were made, which were either fulfilled in, or confirmed by the first coming of Christ, can all best be viewed in the light of the "Sun of Righteousness." And still more do the ceremonies, and especially the sacrifices, of the Mosaic dispensation, require to be viewed in relation to their antitype, "The Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world :"-so, also, the declarations of the prophets, respecting "the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow."

The succeeding History, that contained in the Acts of the Apostles, does, of course, still more require a knowledge of the facts connected with our Lord's first advent. The writer of the Acts takes it for granted that these are known; otherwise the reader cannot appreciate the statements that are made, or the relation to each other of the parties concerned in the narrative; nor can he well understand the motives of the men whose actings he is contemplating, or the ground of those hopes with which they would inspire others—as pointing to glory and honour and immortality, in a patient continuance in well-doing, amid the jeers, the cold neglect, the bitter persecutions of their own nation and of the world.

The Epistles, which open up the doctrines, and enforce the duties of Christianity, all suppose a knowledge of the facts, recorded in the Gospel History, respecting Him in whom we are to believe unto salvation, and whose example we are constantly exhorted to follow, in the practice of the various virtues, in the different relations of life. The power of the

apostolic reasoning we cannot know without being acquainted with the facts on which that reasoning is founded. The force of those exhortations we cannot feel without having before us that blessed Exemplar we are constantly exhorted to copy. Still more is the knowledge of what happened in connection with our Lord's first advent necessary in the reading of the prophetic portion of the New Testament, pointing us onward through those sufferings of which he forewarned his faithful followers, and of the patient endurance of which he left them so bright an example. In our Lord's prophetic discourses, as Matt. xxiv., we have the germ of what is opened up to us in the Apocalypse; as in the parables we have the sum of much that is contained in the prophets.

An intimate knowledge of the Gospel History is thus the best foundation for a complete knowledge of the whole Divine Record, as contained in the Old and New Testaments; and it is that kind of knowledge wherewith we ought ever to be ready to compare whatever, as to doctrine or practice, is presented for our reception or approval. It is the standard whereby all is to be judged; and it is, therefore, that which we ought to be most diligent and careful that every one should truly possess.

It is most important that we should not merely be taught, and that we should teach others, the doctrines respecting Christ; but that we should contemplate the Son of God in his living example; that we should hear our Divine Teacher speak in all the circumstances with which he has been pleased to surround himself; that we hold fellowship with him in his sufferings, as with one who could feel for us and with us:-thus may we be the better enabled to hold present communion with him as our ever living Head-thus may we the more fully be prepared for meeting him in glory.

In thus giving our attention to our best spiritual interests, we are losing nothing as to either the improvement of our natural faculties, or the enlightenment of our minds in a secular point of view. The Gospel Narratives concern the Jews, the remnant of Israel, with whose history those of the most powerful empires are intertwined. It describes them when their sojourn in Palestine was nearly completed, and it sufficiently accounts for the expulsion therefrom, and the singularly long and wide dispersion of a people, the result of whose acting according to expediency may well be a beacon to the politician, as their unbelief is most powerfully calculated to confirm the faith of the Christian: and without the knowledge of the Gospel History, we certainly should come far short of accounting for the blessing which the portions of Protestant Europe and America enjoy, beyond all other parts of the world.

The Geographical position of the country in which the Gospel facts occurred is the most advantageous from which to take a view of other

countries, whether as to their inhabitants, or their physical characteristics, and whether to be reached by water or by land. Africa, Eastern Asia, and Europe, may be regarded as branching off from it as from a common centre. The country itself is one of the most interesting, and must become still more so, as the purposes of God develope themselves according to the prophetic word.

In the Course of our Saviour's personal ministry, which was northward from Jerusalem, and then around the coasts of Galilee, we see indicated the course of the apostolic preaching, which, as we find from the Acts, the Epistles, and, we may add, the Apocalypse, was still more and more northward and westward, toward our own part of the world, where the great development of Divine truth was to take place in the latter times, and whence it was to be spread abroad around every shore, to the remotest parts of the globe.

This was still farther indicated by the Language in which the Gospel Narratives were given. A language of Europe-of the first country out of Asia-north-westward. The language of Greece, it may also be observed, was then perfected, and it is that which has supplied alike the artist, and the man of science, the poet, and the philosopher, with the power of expression, in most of the polished languages of Europe.

The Gospel Narratives, also, introduce us to an acquaintance with the Roman Power, when that power had attained its zenith, and was in the full display of its imperial pride, embracing at once Palestine in the east, and Britain in the west.

The point of time, upon which our attention is fixed, by the Gospel Narratives, is thus not only the most important in itself, as viewed in relation to the Jewish people, the Greek language, and the Roman empire; it is also the most advantageous from which to look back, eighteen hundred years, to the times of the Patriarchs, whose history is recorded in Genesis, and forward over the eighteen centuries in which the Good Shepherd hath been seeking out that which was lost, till we come to our own times, and to those events of which notice is given in the Apocalypse. The great facts of History, whether in modern or in ancient times, can best be read in the light of the Gospel Narratives: the same which is the best calculated to lead us safely in the more near relationships and everyday business of life, is also that which affords the best entrance into human history generally, and the great dispensations of God with regard to our world.

It is astonishing that the advantages of the Gospel Narratives for the instruction of youth have not been more appreciated, and better secured. The Gospel is neither bare narrative, nor dry doctrinal statement, nor mere moral discourse. It presents truth to us in living form, and lively ex