THough the sunne shine in its full brightnesse , yet if either the eye be defective , or the medium unfit , or the object too remote , we see but imperfectly : So though truth be most resplendent in it self , yet if either we be uncapable in apprehending , or tho means unapt to convey , or the truth to be known too farre distant either in place or time , it seems not to be such to us as it is indeed in it own nature . The God of truth , willing to acquaint us with that truth which it most concerns us to know , hath provided his Spirit to enlighten our understanding ; his Sonne and ministery , the means to convey it ; and his written word , to bring those things which were done many ages before our time , and in places farre distant from us , Galat. 3.1 . so neare , as if we had seen them acted before our eyes . To this end our Saviour Christ did choose from among the Jews certain men , Luke 1.2 . which had known his life and doctrine from the beginning , to be witnesses thereof , to the Jews and Gentiles ; and selected two from among his apostles , and from his disciples other two , to commit them to writing , Deut. 17.6 . and 19.15 . and transmit them to posteritie : That if in other cases the witnesse of two or three were sufficient , this of foure might abundantly satisfie any that should doubt of that truth , which in times past did shine full bright among the Jews . Especially having received what they deliver , not onely by their own knowledge and experience ; 2. Pet. 1.21 . but writing , as they spake , the dictates of the Spirit of God . The writings therefore of one of these whom we call Evangelists , 2. Tim. 3.16 . being the testimonie of the holy Spirit ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) is of more value , and ought rather to be credited , then the testimonie of many , nay , of all men : but all of them agreeing in one and the same truth , their testimonie is so much the more enforcing , as implying so many severall acts of one and the same Spirit , producing in divers subjects one and the same effect , even The mysterie of our Salvation by Jesus Christ . For though every one of them follow his own peculiar method and order in the context of his historie , and sometimes deliver the same thing in the same or other words , or adde some circumstance to that which another had written , or new matter altogether omitted by the rest , and now and then seem not so much to respect order and method , as faithfully to record things done : yet in the undoubted truth both of Christs speeches and actions , there is admirable consent and celestiall harmonie .

For the more cleare demonstration of this , the learned ( from the very primitive times through all ages to this of ours ) have bestowed much labour and extraordinarie industrie in comparing of their testimonies together : as , Tatianus the scholar of Justin Martyr ; Ammonius , Origens master ; Theophilus , Antiochenus , Epiphanius contra Alogos , S. Augustine in his foure books of the consent of the Evangelists : After them , Petrus Comestor , Bonaventura , Ludolphus de Saxonia , Joannes Gerson : And of late , Andreas Osiander , Codomannus , Molineus , Jansenius , Barrhadius , Calvinus , Selmatterus , and many others : by whose labours in that kinde the Church of God hath been much enlightned and adorned . Yet this , as it was performed by severall men , so was it done in a diverse manner . Some of them reduced all the foure Evangelists into the method & text of one : the manner whereof appeares by those Canons yet remaining & extant in S. Hierome . Tom. 6. in initio . Others placed the severall texts collaterally in one page ; leaving it to the reader to judge , what was added , or delivered otherwise by any one of them . And this order the most of later times have followed , Calvin excepted , who harmonizeth onely the three first , placing S. John by himself , as hardly reducible to the other three . Others again have reduced all the foure into one continued context , bringing in every one in his due place and own words , delivering his part of the historie of Christ . Of this sort , among the Romane Catholicks , Jansenius ; among the Catholick Protestants , that incomparable Divine Dr. Chemnitius , Helvic . chron. who departing this life in the yeare 1588 , when he had onely finished the two first books , it was continued by Lyserus : but he likewise leaving it unfinished , there was not any found that durst put his hand to the perfecting of that table of Apelles ; till after fifteen yeares it was undertaken , and in few yeares made compleat , by the incessant labours of the learned and famous Dr. John Gerhard in the yeare 1626. Which being so exactly performed , and received with such generall applause by the best ; I thought it the most fit and most worthy to be the rule and square ( for order ratio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) by which I might guide my self in this Harmonie which I have published : some few chapters onely excepted , which they left as indifferent . If any man therefore shall require a reason of the placing of any part of this Historie , why this or that precedes or follows ; I doubt not but if he consult what they have written of that particular , he shall receive abundant satisfaction . What hath been my part herein , with the reason of this new form in which I have placed it , shall appeare in the following direction .

The benefit which will accrue to the intelligent reader by this kinde of harmonie , will be infinitely more then I can acquaint him with . For there is no one word or sentence of any of the Evangelists omitted , nor any redundant in this ; but a perpetuall and continued connexion of the historie in their own words : save onely such , as in all translations be inserted to make compleat the sense of the authour . If any phrase or word did explicate the rest , though it were to the same sense , there both be put in . Whence to unforestalled judgements these things will easily appeare : 1. What speeches or actions of Christ go before , what follow and succeed . 2. In what yeare of Christs life or ministerie every thing was spoken or done . 3. The circumstances of any actions omitted by one or two of the Evangelists , are in this reduced to their due place , and that historie perfected . 4. Many places of the Evangelists , which seem to a heedlesse reader to contradict one another , are by this connexion more commodiously reconciled , then by any glosse whatsoever . 5. The joynt consent of them foure in one testimonie concerning Christ , appeares more illustrious . 6. And lastly , from the whole thus compacted , ariseth a most compleat historie of our Saviours life and death , with the whole foundation of Evangelicall doctrine : which is not so clearely pourtraicted by one , two , or three of the Evangelists , as by them all together . Mine intention in this work ( if any shall desire to know it ) was first mine own information ; then the help of the weak ; and lastly the benefit of all that would make use of it . Which if any shall hereby receive , let God have the glory , me their prayers .

THis Harmonie is divided into five books :

The first contains the historie of Christs private life . Books .

The second , the historie of the first yeare of his publick Ministerie .

The third , the historie of the second yeare of his publick Ministerie .

The fourth , the historie of the third yeare of his publick Ministerie .

The fifth , the historie of the fourth yeare of his publick Ministerie , together with his Passion , Resurrection , and Ascension .

It is also divided from the beginning to the end into 212 chapters , Chapters . ( which divisions come nearer those of the Greeks , then our own ) not beginning to number them again at the beginning of every book ; that ( if there be occasion ) it might the more easily be compared with Chemnitius .

Every page in the title , Pages . shews in what yeare every thing was done ; and hath its margent divided into foure columnes : every of which doth severally contain the name , chapter , and verse of every Evangelist : that the margent might shew in what chapter and verse every part of the Context is to be found : that the text of any one of them might be viewed ; or , where they all speak of the same thing , they might ( if it be thought requisite ) the more fitly be compared .

The Romane letters inserted , Letters . signifie that there begin the words of that Evangelist , which continue till the next : M. signifying the words of S. Matthew ; Mr. Mark ; L. Luke ; J. John . Words added to the text , are printed in a smaller letter .