OF THE FOUR GOSPELS, FOUNDED ON THE ARRANGEMENT OF THE HARMONIA EVANGELICA BY THE REV. EDWARD GRESWELL. WITH THE PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS OF DR. DODDRIDGE. DESIGNED FOR THE USE OF FAMILIES AND SCHOOLS, BY THE REV. E. BICKERSTETH, RECTOR OF WATTON, HERTS. PUBLISHED BY R. B. SEELEY AND W. BURNSIDE : FLEET STREET, LONDON. MDCCCXXXII. PREFACE. THE objects in view in compiling the present work, have been to give such a Harmony of the Gospels as might furnish heads of families with a suitable work for family instruction: schools with a profitable school book; and Christians in general with a combined statement of the different accounts given of our Lord by the Evangelists, so that all may have a more distinct and full view of his Divine and glorious character. The plan of Mr. Greswell's Harmony, given in his Harmonia Evangelica, on the whole, seemed to the Editor the most satisfactory of those which he has had the opportunity of consulting, and has therefore been preferred to that of others; and has been followed with but slight variations. The fundamental principles of Mr. Greswell's Harmony are, 1, That the three last Gospels are regular compositions; 2, That St. Matthew's Gospel is partly regular and partly irregular; 3, That each of the Gospels was written in the order in which it stands; 4, That the Gospels last written, in every instance, were supplemental to the prior. For the full investigation of this subject, with the detailed evidence, the reader is referred to that valuable work, entitled, Dissertations on the Principles and Arrangement of the Harmony of the Gospels, by the Rev. E. Greswell, 3 vols. 8vo. The Reflections of Dr. Doddridge, though wanting in that more prominent statement of Evangelical doc trine which marks those of Guyse, Scott, and some others, are yet so peculiarly devotional and practical, as to be very edifying. It is hoped that they may be more extensively useful by being thus connected with an improved Harmony in a portable volume. In forming the combined text, the Editor has chiefly availed himself of that published by the Moravian brethren, only following the order of Mr. Greswell's arrangement. He has prefixed a striking Introduction taken from Baxter's Reasons of the Christian Religion, giving an account of the peculiar characteristics of the Gospel of Christ; with some slight alterations and additions. He will be truly thankful, should it please God to make the work acceptable and useful to his church. Watton Rectory, |