THE HARMONY OF THE GOSPELS: IN THE WORDS OF THE AUTHORIZED VERSION. WITH AN ACCOUNT OF ANCIENT MANUSCRIPTS AND OF THE VARIOUS TRANSLATIONS OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. LONDON: SEELEY, JACKSON AND HALLIDAY, FLEET STREET: L. SEELEY, TORQUAY. PREFACE. The Bible in our mother tongue is the great triumph of the Reformation; and the knowledge of the Gospel has opened the hearts of many of our countrymen to unite together, and by means of the noble art of printing, to put it within the reach of the humblest in the nation, so that the wish of the pious King George III. may be realized-"That each poor boy in his dominions may possess a Bible." Yet though so open and free to all, there are few persons of the many millions of our population, who duly appreciate the blessing, and fully enjoy it. Many keep a Bible on their shelves or in their boxes, forgetting that therein is contained the lamp and light of their path in life, the never-failing water of bliss, the bread that nourishes the soul, the balm of Gilead for every bleeding heart. Every real christian searches the Scriptures diligently, and loves them truly. Most are well acquainted with them, at least of those parts which teach the plan of salvation, and which are so plain that "the wayfaring man though a fool cannot err therein." And christians can generally readily quote those passages, which give “a reason for the hope that is in them, with meekness and fear." |