NOT

Upon fome Places of the

HARMONY of the GOSPELS.

CHA P. II. p. 6. Six months after] In which month of this year I know not; perhaps not far from the beginning of the year. I determine nothing, left I fhould heap up too many Conjectures, and run the hazard of mixing Fables with the Sacred Hiftory.

P. 7. Conceive immediately] The answer of Mary Thews that the word immediately was to be put in, tho not exprefied in the words of the Angel, for otherwife Mary would have understood that the fhould fhortly be with child by Jofeph, to whom she was efpoufed. See Can. VII. in Differt. 2.

P. 9. Neither fhalt thou fuffer any Punishment] These words lie hid in what went before, blessed art thou which haft believed, &c. In which words Elizabeth tacitly oppofeth the Faith of Mary to the Incredulity of her Hufband Zachariah.

CHAP. III. p. 14. Not from the Yoke of the Romans] Perhaps Jofeph did not underftand thefe words fo; but the words of the Angels contain this meaning.

P. 15. A Dream fent by God, &c.] See what

I have faid at Can. IV. Differt. 2.

Ibid. This firft Calculation of the number of the Jews was made before the Tribute, &c.] I don't think that in this place is meant a Tribute or Tax properly fo called, but an account of the number of the People inftituted for this purpose, that Auguflus might know what the ftrength of Judai was. And then I interpret en évet nyeμLOVE OUTC, was the firft, and indeed before the Calculation of the People in order to a Taxation, when Quirinus was Governour of Syria; as if Luke had faid earn ever. Concerning this matter fee the Differtation of the Learned Critick Perizonius.

P. 16. The very fame night] This is manifeft from Verfe the 11. where Chrift is faid to be born this day, but the day with the Jews befrom the Evening. See Note on Gen. 1.5. P. 18, 19. Who derived his Birth from David after a twofold manner, &c.] See H. Grotius at Luke 3.

gan

P. 22. Extracted out. of the Genealogical Book, &c.] See my Remarks at Mat. 1.8. in my Supplement to Hammond.

CHAP. IV. P. 24. Soon after] Some weeks. See Can. V. Differt. 2.

P. 26. Forty days were expired] See Can. V.

Diff.

2.

P. 31. Not long after Herod died] The thirty fourth year of his Reign being begun, from the taking of Jerufalem, perhaps about the end of the Summer. See Diff. 1. mum. I.

Ibid. Of which Jofeph was inform'd by the Angel] Before the report or certain news of the matter came into Egypt, where Jofeph was, otherwife there had been no need of a Revelation. Therefore perhaps in the fame year Jofeph returned to Nazareth. Notwithstanding I have referred the matter to the year following; because then Archelaus truly reigned, when he was declar'd King by Auguftus. Of this matter fee the learned Epift. of Cardinal Norris concerning the Coin of Herod Antipas. But Jofeph feems to have tarried fome time in the Coafts of Egypt, in his return to Judea, expecting the event of the journy the Children of Herad had made to Rome. But here I have neither denied or af firmed any thing, having refolv'd with my felf not to mix Conjectures with the facred Hiftory.

CHAP. VII. P. 35. In the fifteenth year, &c.] See my Diff. 1. num. III. If Luke fpake accurately, John began to baptize after the 28th day of the month of Auguft. there is no need of fuppofing, that the Evangelift fpoke fo exactly in this particular.

But

CHAP. VIII. Jefus came out of Galilee] About the end of the foregoing year, or the beginning of this; but I had rather have it the latter, because John ought already to have baptized for fome time, when Jesus came to him, the Fame of it being already fpread far abroad. So the Western Churches were wont to refer the Baptifm of Chrift to the 8th day of the Ides of January; but, according to my calculation, Chrift was in his 30th year, which exactly agrees with the account St. Luke I have added, that John was progives us. phetically admonished, which I collect from his own words in the Evangelift of the fame name, Chap. 1. 33. Harmon. p. 51.

P. 41. Into a neighbouring Solitude of Arabia, &c.] viz. This was a Defert near to the place he was baptized at.

P.42. Leading him to an exceeding high Moun tain. In this Hiftory I have preferred the LI 2 Order

this, fince no publick Sayings of John follow: And therefore I have drawn back the Narration of Lake to this place, tho otherwife I have always preferved his Order.

Order of Matthew's Narration to that of Luke, as you may find by the numbers of the Verfes, because prefently after the Temptation Jefus went to John, by which it is credible that the laft Temptation happened in a Mountain of Perez, not far from the place John was in. Such a Mountain was that from which Mofes beheld Canaan.

CHAP. IX. p. 44. Some, &c.] I have accounted for this Paraphrafe of the beginning of St. John's Gospel in a Differtation in my Supplement, which fome have carp'd at. I have not as yet defended it, becaufe what I have there faid I think fufficient, if compared with what they have objected, to fatisfy the impartial and learned Reader on what fide the truth is, or at least a real endeavour after it. I am not ambitious of being count ed a skilful Difputant; and if I labour'd under that Vice, I would not chufe to contend with them who have provoked me by railing, and affaulted me with the invenom'd Darts of Envy. Let them look for Antagonifts among fuch as love the arts of detracting and reviling as well as themfelves.

CHAP. X. p. 54. By which he might perceive that Jefus, &c.] What follows, and what goes before, fhew that this must néceffarily be inferred. See Can.V. and VI. Differt. 2. P.53. Who at other times had seen her Son perform Miracles.] See what is written,

Can. V. Differt. 2.

wards the end.

P. 59. Having premis'd this, &c.] See what

I have faid at Can. VI. in Differ. 2.

P. 61. And fhould hefitate about them] The folowing words require this Addition, other: wife they would feem to be unfeafonable.

CHAP. XII. p. 60. The Baptifm] That was ufed by John and Chrift, as appears from what follows.

P. 66. When John was in that part of the Country which was ander the Government of Herod, &c.] There is no place of the Hiftory the imprifoning of John can be plac'd in, but

CHAP. XIII. p. 69. There being no other living Water in all this Country. Thefe words are neceffarily to be understood, that there may be a convenient meaning in the queftion of the Samaritan. The Reader may gather from this and fuch like places, how afeful a continued Paraphrafe of the Hiftory of the Gofpel is.

P. 73. 'Tis but four months between fawing and reaping.] See what I have faid of this place in Differt. 1. num. IV.

CHAP. XIV. p. 77. Take notice that no Prophet has ever, &c.] Unless you fupply out of Lake what is here deficient in John, the 44th Verfe of Chap. 4. of John will here feem to be as it were intruded without any occafion. But John, who knew that the Relation might be read entire in Luke, thought it fufficient to touch upon it in one word. This and other like places teach us that we muft not argue too nicely from the mere filence of the Evangelifts, as if they recounted all the Words of Jefus, or all the Circumftances of his Difcourfes.

CHAP. XV. p. 81. Having again left Nazareth, &c.] If we read only Matthew, we fhall not mind what I have interpofed between 12 and 13 ver. Chap. 4. But it is plain from other Evangelifts that this was Chrift's fecond going out of his own Country. But when any thing is omitted, remote times are not lefs joined together than if they were near. See what I have written upon this point at. Can. XV. Diff. 2.

P.85. Early the next morning before break of day] So I have expreffed the gel cruze'r Aiav of St. Mark, and equens nμicas in St. Luke, viz. Jefus arofe before the morning, but the morning broke forth as he was in his journy. So that other place is to be underfood of the time that the Women went to Chrift's Sepulchre.

P. 87. And were washing their Nets by the Sea-fide.] Which expreffes the meaning of all the Evangelifts.

CHAP. XVI. p. 92. By which means Jefus avoided the envy of the Priests.] This indeed is

not contained in the words of the Evanglifts, but is the neceffary confequence of that Act of Christ.

CHAP. XVIII. p. 101. On the 16th of April] Out of that erroneous Cycle which Petavim made according to the minds of the Jews. See Differt. 1. about the end.

P. 101. Not daring to fatisfy their Malice,&c.] This we have out of John 18. 31.

CHAP. XIX. p. 110. On the firft Sabbathday, but the fecond in number of the feven Sabbaths, &c.] Here is a circumlocution, caßBÁTE S&TECTSWT, of the second first Sabbath, which may be very aptly drawn from the compofition of the word. But I do not. offer it as an undoubted truth, and am of opinion that this one thing only is manifeft, that this firft after the fecond Sabbath is to be looked for between the Paffover and Pentecoft.

P. 114. May we by the Law preferve a Life, or destroy it? The Jews of that Age thought that it was not lawful to invade an Enemy on the Sabbath-day, or fet upon him; but that they might repel force by force, even to the killing of him. Which I will prove at another time out of Jofephus. Since they could not deny but that their Doctors commonly believed it lawful, they could not deny the lawfulness of fiving a man's Life on the Sabbath-day: For if it is lawful to kill, it is lawful alfo to fave.

P.116. Left bis Followers,who were in expectation of an earthly Empire.] I have feveral times alledged this reafon of Chrift's Command, by which he was willing to be concealed, in my Additions to Hammond, and look upon it as certain; and whoever will weigh the matter attentively, will be of my opinion.

CHAP. XXII. p. 148. He fent fome of the best condition to him, &c.] I have fhown how Matthew is to be reconciled with Luke,. at Can. XVI. Diff. 2.

CHAP. XXV. p. 160. At a certain time invited him] I have fhown that this Story is here read in its proper place, at Can. VIII. Differ. 2. I might add to what is faid, that this Simon doubted whether Jesus were a Prophet, which would more difficultly have fallen out in the fourth year, after fo many and great Miracles had been fhewn, and efpecially at Bethany, where Lazarus had been raifed from the Dead..

CHAP. XXVIII. p. 191. Two men a long time poffeffed with evil Spirits, &c.] See what I have faid concerning the reconciling of Matthem with the two other Evangelifts, at Can. XII. Diff. 2.

· P. 193. In all likelihood, &c.] This indeed is a Conjecture, but, in my opinion, a very. probable one; as alfo the reason why Jefus permitted the evil Spirits to enter into the Swine.

CHAP. XXIX. p. 202. To demonflrate, &c.] That it might be prefently manifeft that the did live, and was in health, and was not moved by magick Art.. So I conjecture.

CHAP. XXXI. p. 216. About the beginning of the third Year, &c.] If the Life of Herod the Great, written by Nicolaus of Damafcus had come to us, perhaps we might have known the Year and Birth-day of his Son, from whence we might likewife have known the time of John the Baptift's Death. The Antients might very conveniently have used this and many other Books, which are now loft, to the eternal good of Pofterity; but they knew not their own Riches.

P. 218. Herod told them he was of the fame opinion.] I have here reduced the Evangelifts to an agreement, as alfo in what follows.

CHAP. XXXIV. p. 238. On the 5th of April.] Out of the Cycle I before mentioned,, and of which I have fpoke about the end of the first Differtation..

CHAP. XXXV. p. 252. The Concourse of People, &c.] Uniefs we remember this reafon, it is neceffary that this and fome other places. fhould be very obfcure; which I know not whether any of the Antients confidered, or any Interpreter of the immediately preceding Ages. For my part, I think it owing to this Age of ours.

P.254. To account himself highly favour'd.] Chrift feems to have paffed over the like Confeffion of Peter before on purpose, about the end of Chap. 35. becaufe others were present: befides the Apoftles, before whom he would not openly profefs himself the Meiab for the reafons before mentioned. But here before his Difciples only he did no longer conceal himself, now that the end of his Miniftry was not far off; and accepting of Peter's Profeffion, he becomes thus bountiful to him..

CHAP.

CHAP. XXXVI. p.258. On the eighth day, the fame time, would all be promiscuously &c.] So Luke; whenas Matthew and Mark jumbled together. have only, after fix days. Confult the Interpreters on thefe words.