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INTRODUCTION

If the publisher had done nothing else but carry out this idea, he would have performed a good service, for many devout students of the Word of God; but he has done much more and I doubt not, by a very simple method, will become the instrument of good to thousands.

The several things aimed at and accomplished, in the plan of the book, are these

FIRST. A complete harmony of the several Evangelistic narratives, in a consecutive chronological order, thus presenting in one view a complete and perfect picture of our Saviour's life and ministry. Every word of each Gospel is given, but in continued and unbroken flow, and not in the fragmentary and disjointed order of chapter and verse, as found in the ordinary form.

SECOND. The words spoken by Jesus himself are raised out of the page, in relief, by means of larger type; so that if the reader is desirous, he can peruse at a single sitting all the words of the Master left on record, in the order of their utterance, and apart from the words of others, without the labor of selecting.

THIRD. While the main intent is to present the Gospels in a harmonious arrangement, and especially to give prominence to the divine speaker himself, the author has furnished two preliminary and a concluding chapter of real interest and value, in the first of which, by a judicious collocation of passages from the Old and New Testaments, he traces Christ as he appeared in Creation and Providence, as set forth by the Prophets and Apostles. In the second he sketches a brief account of his childhood with appropriate reflections, and in the concluding chapter ending the volume, he gives his words uttered after the ascension, as found in the Epistles and the book of Revelation.

FOURTH. Accompanying the volume, is a geographical and historical chart, ingeniously contrived to illustrate the general idea of the book. This chart is entitled "The Walks of Jesus; a Pictorial Chart of the Antediluvian and Patriarchal Periods, and of the Holy Land; for Sunday Schools and Families." It is published in neat and attractive form, and of various sizes, and cannot fail to be a useful accompaniment of Bible study.

I am so pleased with the general plan of this work, and with the manner in which the publisher is executing his idea, that I take great pleasure in commending it as a helpful and convenient companion to all Bible lovers and students.

Among the many books which are appearing, concerning the Christ, this, after all, is the truest and best. It may be WELL to read them--it is INDISPENSABLE to read this. Whatever gives interest to the sacred page, and especially, whatsoever shall give prominence to the simple word and truth of Jesus, cannot fail to be fraught with blessings to the world.

The holy Evangelists were inspired men. All their words are the words of God, and not one of them to be lightly esteemed, or to be held as of questionable authority; and yet the precise sentences that fell from the lips of the Only Begotten rise in importance and dignity, and come to us with more direct authority and divinity. Let us remember the voice that dropped from the open heaven: "This is my beloved Son: hear ye him."

R. S. FOSTER.

JESUS IN CREATION AND PROPHECY.

When we open the HOLY BIBLE, the very first sentence unfolds to us the creation of worlds by the Word and power of Jehovah: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."

In the NEW TESTAMENT Jesus is presented as the "Creator of all things." The inspired writer opens the subject in these words: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made."

Again, John, in his vision of the future glory of the Church, saw the Eternal Throne, and Jesus the Mighty Conqueror seated upon it; and heard voices chanting in angelic strains, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come."

And four-and-twenty elders, clothed in white robes, with crowns of gold, fell prostrate before him, and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever, saying, "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honor, and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."

When Adam had ruined himself and his posterity by eating the forbidden fruit, Jehovah, in his infinite love, gave him the promise of a MESSIAH, in the words addressed to the serpent: "I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."

As we trace along the stream of time, we see this faint promise oft renewed, brightening with every repetition.

When Jehovah had destroyed the world by a flood, on account of its wickedness, preserving only the family of Noah to repeople it, and had scattered the builders of Babel, confounding their language, he said to faithful Abram: "Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee: and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee; and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed."

Thus from time to time was the promise of a coming Saviour renewed, until, on the plains of Bethlehem, a glorious light burst upon the watching shepherds, and an angel appeared, saying; "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

And when the angels had departed, the shepherds said one to another, "Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us." And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen.

Eight days after, at the circumcision of the child, he was called Jesus, which signifies Saviour, a name given before he was born: "for" said the angel, "He shall save his people from their sins."

THE CHILDHOOD OF JESUS.

The Incarnation of the Son of God, presents us with an example of condescension and humiliation, only equalled by the exaltation of its subjects. He came to earth, that he might exalt us to heaven. His sufferings and death, clothe us, who are dead in sin, with immortality, and secure to us the bliss of an eternal Paradise. To trace the footsteps of Jesus, God Incarnate, and to present the words that dropped fresh from his wise and holy lips, while on his mission of mercy to this sin-stricken world, will be the object of these pages.

They return, anxious and sorrow stricken, to Jerusalem, where they find him still in the Temple, sitting with the Doctors of the law, and astonishing the multitude with his understanding and answers. His mother, though amazed at his wisdom, gently chides her son for his lack of filial fidelity, saying, "Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing." And he said unto them,

How is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?

And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them; but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

Eighteen years now pass away without the record of another word. While he honored his earthly parents, and was diligent in his daily toil, he was doubtless ever busy in the work assigned him by his Father in heaven. Multitudes may have been charmed by his youthful eloquence, confounded by his wisdom, and melted under his sweet spirit of love. But to us it is one great blank. This brief sentence among the doctors in the temple, in answer to the question of the anxious mother, is like some blazing comet, which for a brief space lights the starry vault with its radiance, and then shoots off, in its eccentric course, to be seen no more for years to come. During these silent years, multitudes had passed to their reward. "Seed time and harvest, summer and winter, day and night," had succeeded each other, in regular order; while the "bow in the cloud" had constantly reminded the world of the gracious promise of God to Noah. But not a word is preserved from the lips of this wonderful child. Not a footprint marks his journeyings.

At the age of thirty he suddenly appears again on the page of history. Let us now follow his footsteps, and listen to his words.

THE BAPTISM AND TEMPTATION OF JESUS.

And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, to Jordan, unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbade him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him,

And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost, returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted of the devil. And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts. And in those days he did eat nothing. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But Jesus answered and said,

It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them, in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me: and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt fall down and worship me, all shall be thine. And Jesus answered and said unto him,

Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season. And, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

TESTIMONY OF JOHN--CALL OF THE FIRST DISCIPLES.

This is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? He confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.

And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

Again the next day after, John stood, and two of his disciples; And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them,

What seek ye?

They said unto him, Rabbi, where dwellest thou? He saith unto them,

Come and see.

Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is, by interpretation, A stone.

The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him,

Follow me.

Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.

Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith unto him,

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