Hours among the Gospels; or, Wayside truths from the life of Our Lord

Front matter

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Preface

Two musical notes produce a higher effect when sounding in harmony, than when heard singly in succession. Two slightly different views of the same scene, blended in the stereoscope, give a single view far more life-like than that which either presents when seen by itself.

Thus two separated portions of Divine truth are sometimes found to be so remarkably related to each other, that being brought together, a far more striking, if not a wholly new impression is obtained.

Such works as Paley's " JSbrce Paulince 1 '' and Blunt' s "Undesigned Coincidences of the Old and New Testaments," valuable as they are for the special object of establishing the minute truthfulness of the Sacred Writers, secure perhaps even a higher result, in incidentally eliciting the fuller and more vivid meanings of those portions of Scripture with which they deal.

In pursuing the study of the Gospel records, the author has, from time to time, noted such passages as have been found to receive striking illustration from unexpected sources. The chief of these, with their illustrations, are herewith presented. Sometimes, as will be seen, the illustration comes from outside the G-ospel history. Often the narrative in one of the gospels finds its complement in the parallel narrative of another of the gospels. Occasionally the immediate context, when well considered, is found to have an interpretative bearing not at first sight perceived.

The passages illustrated being of considerable number, and coming from every part of the Evangelic narratives, and being moreover here arranged, as nearly as possible, in the order of historical occurrence, the book instead of proving to be a mere aggregation of disconnected teachings, may be found to present a tolerably complete outline of the Life and Ministry of our Lord.

It may not be amiss to state that the first chapter, substantially as here given, was published some years since, under the author's initials, in one of the religious magazines.

Although the Gospel records are receiving elaborate exposition and defence from the most distinguished Sons of the Church, it is hoped that this humble effort will not be regarded as either wholly useless or presumptuous.

Cincinnati, May, 1865.

Christ's saying to Mary Magdalene, " Touch me not : for I am not yet Ascended to my Father." 21