We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord.-2 COR. iii. 8. Almighty God, who hast given Thine only Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin, and also an ensample of godly life; give us grace that we may always most thankfully receive that His inestimable benefit, and also daily endeavour ourselves to follow the blessed steps of His most holy life; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.-Collect for the Second Sunday after Easter. PREFACE. It may seem superfluous, nay, even presumptuous, to add another to the many expository works on the Gospels already before the public. But Scripture is inexhaustible,-the phases of life are perpetually varying, and every observer has a standing-place of his own. The special object of the present work is to bring the lessons of Scripture into intimate contact with our modern every-day life. The Gospels, full as they are of home incidents and familiar illustrations, offer peculiar advantages for this kind of study. Not, indeed, that it has been sought to deduce definite maxims from every portion of Scripture explained. In much that we are told of our Lord in the Sacred History, the great lesson set before us is CHRIST Himself. To learn Christ, to gain a more vivid conception of what He Amongst these may be especially mentioned, as suited to the needs of the purely English reader, the interesting Commentaries on the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Mark lately published by Dr. Harvey Goodwin, Dean of Ely. To these works, and still more largely to the invaluable Commentary on the Greek Testament by Dean Alford, the writer has been much indebted. was, of what He is to us,-this is to gain also the truest insight into the meaning and issues of our earthly life. It is hoped that this book may be found fitted for Domestic reading, for the use of Bible classes, and also for the private study of intelligent young persons. Deeply conscious of the responsibility incurred by meddling with such sacred themes, the writer yet feels that it is one of the most blessed, as it has been well said to be "one of the highest tasks on which the labour of a life can be spent, to bring the words of Christ a little nearer the heart of man." Hastings, May 19th, 1860. |