"fome ecclefiaftical writers Luke published his Gofpel fifteen, according "to others two and twenty years after Chrift's afcenfion .... That "he transcribed many things from Matthew, and yet more from Mark, "is manifeft."

But if St. Luke wrote within two and twenty years after Chrift's af cenfion, and transcribed a great deal from St. Mark; St. Mark's Gospel must have been first published, and very early. If St. Mark's Gospel was not published till the year 64. and St. Luke transcribed from him ; St. Luke could not write, till a good while after two and twenty years from Chrift's afcenfion. I do not perceive therefore, that Mr. Wetfrein had any determined opinion concerning the date of these two Gofpels. Nor can I, as yet, perfuade myself, that any of the Evangelifts

tranfcribed each other.

VII. I will now observe some characters of time in Marks of Time in the Gospel itself, like those before taken notice of in the Gospel itself. St. Matthew.

1. From ch. vii. 14.. 23. it appears, that St. Mark fully understood the fpirituality of the doctrine of Chrift, recommending righteousnesse and true holinesse, without an obligation to Jewish ritual ordinances and appointments.

2. His hiftorie of the Greek or Gentil woman, in the fame chap. vii. 24. 30. who befought Jefus to heal her daughter, and obtained her request, deferves notice here.

3. The call of the Gentils, and the rejection of the Jews, as a People, are intimated in ch. xii. 1... 12. in the parable there recorded, of the Householder, who planted a vineyard, and let it out to husbandmen: to whom after a while he fent fervants, and then his fon, to receive from them the fruit of the vineyard. But they abufed the fervants, and killed the fon. It is added: What therefore will the Lord of the vineyard do? He will defroy the husbandmen, and will let out the vineyard unto others. And what follows.

4. In ch. xiii. are predictions concerning the deftruction of the temple, and the defolations of the Jewish People. And, particularly, at ver. 14.. 16. are remarkable expreffions, intimating the near approach of thofe calamities, and fuited to excite the attention of fuch as were in danger of being involved in them.

5. In his account of the inftitution of the eucharift our Lord fays: ch. xiv. 24. This is my blood of the New Teftament, which is fhed for many : that is, for all men, not for Jews only, but for Gentils alfo.

6. In ch, iv. 30.. 32. is the parable of the grain of mustard feed, the left of all feeds, which becometh greater than all herbs: reprefenting the fwift and wonderful progreffe of the Gofpel in the world. Of which it is very likely St. Mark, at the time of writing, had fome knowledge.

7. It is manifeft, that he well understood the extent of our Saviour's commiffion to the twelve Apoftles. For he has recorded it in these words, ch. xvi. 15. Go ye therefore into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature: or the whole creation, that is, Jews and Gentils, all mankind of every denomination.

8. Yea, it appears from the conclufion of his hiftorie, that before he wrote, the Apofiles (at left divers of them) had left Judea, and had

E 4

preached

preached in many places. ver. 20. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with figns following.

9. Ch. xvi. 18. They shall take up ferpents. Some may think, that here is a reference to the historie, which we have in Acts xxviii. 3. . 6. I do not fay, there is. But allowing it, Ifhould not reckon it an objection to the genuinneffe of this part of that chapter. It would only be an argument for the late date of this Gofpel. And it has been fo underftood by (b) fome. For my own part, I cannot fay, that St. Mark has referred to it. But I make no queftion, that he was acquainted with the event there related, when he wrote his Gofpel.

Obfervations upon VIII. I fhall conclude this chapter with fome obferthis Gofpel. vations upon St. Mark's Gospel.

1. It confirms the accounts given by the ancients, that it is the subftance of Peter's preaching.

This was taken notice of just now in our recollection. But I choose to enlarge upon it here, and fhew, that the Gofpel itself affords. evidences of it's being writ according to that Apoftle's difcourfes, or according to informations and directions given by him to this Evangelift.

1.) In the first place I would here remind my readers of a long paffage of Eufebius, the learned Bishop of Cefarea, formerly transcribed, of which I take here a very fmall part only.

Having obferved feveral things very honourable to Peter, related in the other Gofpels, he adds: "Though (1) fuch things were faid to Peter by "Jefus, Mark has taken no notice of them: because, as is probable, "Peter did not relate them in his fermons. For he did not think fit to "bear teftimonie to himself by relating what Jefus faid to him, or of

him. Therefore Mark has omitted them. But what concerned his « denial of Jefus, he preached to all men, because he wept bitterly "For all things in Mark are faid to be memoirs of Peter's dif « courfes."

2.) And (k) Chryfoftom, reconciling Matthew's and Mark's accounts of Peter's denying Chrift, fays: "Thefe things Mark had from his master. "For he was a difciple of Peter. And what is very remarkable, though "he was a difciple of Peter, he relates his fall more particularly, than any "of the reft."

3.) The () fame great preacher explaining the hiftorie of our Lord's paying the didrachm or tribute-money to the temple, which is in Matth. xvii. 24... 27. and particularly thofe words: That take and give unto them for me and thee, fays, "Mark, who was a difciple of Peter, omits "this, because it was honourable to that Apoftle. But he relates the "hiftorie

(b) Poftremo, in ipfis Evangeliis quædam exftare videntur criteria, ex quibus ea fero effe confcripta colligi poteft, Phrafis xene organ, ufque ad bunc diem.Mat. xxviii. 15. jultum fpatium inter Chrifti refurrectionem et Evangelium exaratum poftulare videtur. Ita que Marcus cap. xvi. 18. de ferpentibus a Chrifti difcipulis fine damno tollendis habet, ad Paulum, Romam tendentem, et quod ei in itinere in infula Mileto contigit, refpicere videntur. Herman. Vinema Diff. fecund. de titulo ef. ad Ephef. Cap. v. num. iv. $$. (4) Polx. 1 • 318. (1) P. 319•

"hiftorie of his denial of Chrift. And perhaps his master forbid him to "infert fuch things, as tended to aggrandife him.”

4.) No one has more largely treated this point, than Mr. Jones, who has (m) a catalogue of feveral places in the Gofpels, containing things tending to Peter's honour, which are not mentioned in St. Mark's Gospel.

(1.) The account of Chrift's pronouncing Peter bleffed, when he had confeffed him: Chrift's declaring, that he had his faith and knowledge from God: the promife, of the keys, and of that large power, which is made to him: are omitted by St. Mark, though the former and the fucceding parts of this difcourfe are both told by him. See Matt. xvi. 16. .. 20. compared with Mark viii. 29. 30.

(2.) The relation of St. Peter's being commiffioned by Chrift to work the miracle, by getting money out of the fish's mouth, to pay the tributemoney, is told by St. Matthew. ch. xvii. 24. . . 28. but omitted by St. Mark: though the preceding and fubfequent ftorics are the very fame as in St. Matthew. See Mark ix. 30.

33.

(3-) Chrift's particular expreffions of love and favour to St. Peter, in telling him of his danger, and that he prayed particularly for him, that his faith might not fail, is omitted by St. Mark, but related Luke xxii. 31. 32.

(4.) St. Peter's remarkable humility above the rest of the Apostles expressed in an unwillingneffe, that Christ should wash his feet, which none of the reft did exprefs, with Chrift's particular discourse to him. John xiii. 6. &c. is omitted by Mark.

(5.) The inftance of St. Peter's very great zeal for Chrift, when he was taken, in cutting off the High-Prieft's fervant's ear. John xviii. 10. is not mentioned by Mark in particular, but only told in general, of a certain person that ftood by. Mark xiv. 47.

(6.) St. Peter's faith in cafting himself into the sea, to go to Christ. John xxi. 7. is not mentioned by St. Mark. (A)

(7.) Chrift's difcourfe with Peter concerning his love to him, and his particular repeated charge to him, to feed his sheep. John xxi. 15. is omitted by St. Mark.

(8.) Our Saviour's predicting to Peter his martyrdom, and the manner of it. John xxi. 18. 19. is not related by St. Mark.

"Thefe, adds that diligent author, are fome inftances of things, tending to St. Peter's honour, recorded by the other Evangelifts, none of which are so much as hinted by St. Mark. . . . All which cannot be accounted for any way more probable, than fuppofing, that this Apostle did not publish thofe circumftances, which were fo much to his ho

nour."

...

Indeed, I think, they do confirm the accounts given of this Gospel by the ancients. For thefe omiffions cannot be fo well afcribed to any thing, as to St. Peter's modestie and reservedneffe, who had not mentioned fuch things in his preaching, and difcouraged the putting them down

(m) See new and full Method. Part 3. p. 79... 81.

(4) There is a like thing, and more extraordinarie, related by Matthew only. ch...v, 28. . . 31. I do not know, why Mr. Jones omitted it.

down in writing: infomuch that, as Tertullian fays, the (») Gospel publifhed by Mark, may be said to be Peter's.

5.) Nevertheless I must acknowledge, that there are fome things in St. Mark's Gofpel honourable to Peter, which are not in any other. I fhall mention two or three.

Says St. Mark ch. i. 36. And Simon, and they that were with him, followed after him. If thereby be intended the whole companie of the Apoftles, that way of defcribing them is very honourable to Peter. But fome may fuppofe, none to be intended, befide thofe mentioned ver. 29. If fo, it refembles Luke ix. 32. But Peter, and they that were with him: meaning John and James, and referring to ver. 28.

In Mark xiv. 3. Peter is mentioned, as one of the four Apoftles, to whom our Lord addressed himself, when he foretold the deftruction of the temple, and the calamities attending it. Which is a passage peculiar to St. Mark.

And ch. xvi. 7. The meffage, which the angel fent to the difciples by the women at the fepulchre, is thus expreffed: But go your way. Tell his difciples and Peter, that he goes before you into Galilee. Peter is not mentioned, upon this occafion, by Matthew xxviii. 7. nor by any other of the Evangelifts.

Upon this text Whitby fays very well: "Peter is here named, not as * Prince of the Apoftles, but, as the Fathers fay, for his confolation, and "to take off the fcruple, which might be upon his fpirit: whether by "his threefold denial of his master, he had not forfeited his right to be "one of Chrift's difciples."

I now proceed to another obfervation.

2. St. Mark's Gofpel, as is evident to all, is the fhorteft of the four. Jerome, as before cited, fays, Mark (c) wrote a fhort Gofpel. And Chryfoftom obferved, that (p) Mark had the concifeneffe of Peter, following his mafter.

3. Nevertheless there are in St. Mark many things peculiar to himself, not mentioned by any other Evangelist.

I fhall here put down feveral fuch things, and not thofe, which are omitted by Matthew only, but fuch things, as are in Mark, and in no ather of the Evangelifts.

1.) In the account of our Saviour's temptation in the wilderneffe, St. Mark fays, ch. i. 13. and was with the wild-beafis: not mentioned by any other Evangelift, and yet very proper to fhew the hardships, which our Lord underwent at that season.

2.) Ch. i. 20. In the account of the call of James and John, the fons of Zebedee, he fays, they left their father in the hip, with the hired jervants. A circumftance not mentioned by any other.

3.) Ch. i. 29. And forthwith, when they were come out of the fynagogue, they entered into the houfe of Simon, and Andrew, with James and John. In Matth. viii. 14. it is only, come into Peter's boufe. In Luke iv. 38. and entered into Simon's houfe.

4.) Ch. i. 33. And all the city was gathered torether at the door. Not in any other Evangelift, Compare Matt. viii. 16. Luke iv. 40. 41.

5.) 'Ch.

(n) See Fal. H. p. 581.

(a) See here. p. 175, (p) Sec Volx. p. 322,

5.). Ch. i. 35. And in the morning rifing up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a folitarie place, and there prayed. 36. And Simon, and they that were with him, followed after him. 37. And when they had found him, they said unto him: All men feek thee. This is not at all in Matthew, and is here much fuller, and with more particulars, than in Luke iv. 42.

6.) Ch. i. 45. Of the leper, cured by our Saviour, he fays: But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter. Not particularly mentioned by the other Evangelifts. Compare Matth. viii. 4. Luke v. 14. 15.

7.) In the cure of the paralytic. ch. ii. 2. And straitway many were gathered together, infomuch that there was no room to receive them, not fo much as about the door. 3. And they come unto him, bringing one fick of the palfie, which was born of four. 4. And they uncovered the roof.

No other Evangelist has fo particularly described the croud. In Mark only is it faid, that this fick man was born of four. He likewife more particularly defcribes the uncovering the roof. Compare Matt. ix. 1. 2. Luke v. 18. 19.

8.) In the historie of the man with a withered hand, cured in the fynagogue, on a fabbath. ch. iii. 5. And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardnesse of their hearts, he faith unto the man: Stretch forth thy hund. Not fo full in any other Evangelift, Compare Matt. xii. 9. 13. Luke vi. 6. .. II.

9.) Ch. iii, ver. 6. And the Pharifees went forth, and firaightway took tounfel with the Herodians against him. Matth. xii. 14. mentions Pharifees only, Luke vi. 11. mentions no perfons by name.

10.) Ch. iii. 17. And James the fon of Zebedee, and John the brother of James. And he named them Boanerges. Not in any other Evangelift.

1. Ch, iii, 19. ... And they went into the house. 20. And the multitude cometh together again, fo that they could not fo much as eat bread. 21. And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold of him. For they faid: He is befide himself. Whether that expreffion, he is befide himfelf, is to be understood of Chrift, or of the multitude, this paffage is peculiar to St. Mark,

12.) Ch. iv. 26. And he faid: So is the kingdom of God, as if a man fhould caft his feed into the ground, 27. and should sleep, and rife night and day, and the feed fhould fpring and grow up, he knoweth not how. 28. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of itself, first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. 29. But when the fruit is ripe, immediately be putteth in the fickle, because the harveft is come, This parable is peculiar to St. Mark. See Whitby upon the place, and likewife (q) Grotius.

13.) After the parable of the grain of muftard feed, befide other things common to him and Matthew, he adds, ch. iv. 24. And when they were alone, be expounded all things to his difciples. Compare Matt. xiii. 31.... 34. This

(9) Hæc parabola, aliis omiffa, cum fuam hic explicationem non habeat, explicari debet ex fimili comparatione, quæ eft apud Matth, xiii. 24. Gret. ad Marc, iv. 26,