The distribution of some early copies of this Book amongst the Diocesan Inspectors of Schools has brought forth some very warm expressions of approval, for which the Author returns his hearty thanks.

A very general opinion has been formed that the Book will be most useful,

a. To the Clergy and Students generally, for reference in their study of the Gospels.

b. To the Teachers and Students of our Training Colleges.

c. To Masters and Mistresses of National Schools.

d. To Pupil Teachers and Sunday School Teachers in the preparation of their lessons.

e. To advanced Scholars in our Board and other Schools.

f. For Sunday Lessons in our Public and Grammar Schools. g. For short readings at Family Prayer.

The Author may be permitted to say that in addition to the above uses his chief object in preparing this Book was for his own children and pupils to learn from, that the principal part of the Gospels, as contained in these pages, may be committed to memory during the three or four years that they are under his teaching.

INTRODUCTION.

This little Book contains the principal part of the four Gospels which give to us, so to speak, the Life of our Blessed Saviour on earth.

But how far from the real truth is it to say that the Evangelists give us the whole life of Jesus! They do not indeed pretend to do so. They only tell us concerning Him some few particulars which, under Divine Inspiration, seemed to them the most remarkable, and therefore the most worthy of notice.

They give us, in fact, merely a few incidents concerning His Birth and Childhood, passing over entirely (S. Luke excepted, and that in a single instance only) the time between the return from Egypt, (when, as some suppose, He was only a few months old,) and the beginning of His ministry at about the age of thirty.

They then take up the account of His three years Ministry, telling us of His Miracles, His Parables, His Preaching, His Conversations with the Jews and with His disciples; but here again these things are not given to us in the same order in each Gospel, nor do the writers pretend to tell us all that Jesus did and spake; on the contrary S. John says plainly of Jesus after His Resurrection,

"And many other signs truly did Jesus in the

66

'presence of His disciples, which are not

"written in this Book."-(Chap. xx. 30.)

And at the end of his Gospel (ch. xxi. 25.)

"And there are also many other things which
"Jesus did, the which, if they should be
"written every one, I suppose that even the
"world itself could not contain the books that
"should be written."

The Evangelists do, however, give us somewhat minutely the incidents of the last week of our Saviour's Ministry, and tell us briefly,but in touching language, of His last sufferings in the garden of Gethsemane, His trial, Condemnation and Death. We then have the account of His Resurrection, and His different appearances during the forty days that He remained on earth-and lastly we are told of His ascending up to Heaven.

It has been frequently tried, with more or less success, to make out of the Gospels one continuous narrative, and to record each event and instruction in the order in which it may be supposed to have happened or to have been spoken. Such a continuous narrative as this is called a Harmony, and is a most instructive way of studying the writings of the Evangelists.

But my plan has been somewhat different. I have endeavoured to provide a book which may be put into the hands of a class to read from—the passages given being so arranged and divided that a better knowledge may be gained, than by reading a chapter here and there, as a whole, out of one Evangelist, and then perhaps reading out of another the same circumstances in somewhat different words. And as the first three Evangelists often record the same Miracle or the same Parable with some slight differences, these are given side by side in parallel columns, that the reader may note what the differences are. I have thought

also that out of this Book the principal part of the Gospels may
not impossibly be learned by heart, by children, who, as in my
own school, are under instruction for three or four years. Many
persons and I thoroughly respect their motive-condemn the
practice of making children learn the Bible as a task, for
fear of causing it to be disliked and avoided; but I can truly
say that I have not found this to be the case, and that I have,
for many years, set the New Testament to be learned by heart,
as a daily lesson, and no tears have been shed over the learning
of it. Intending these pages therefore for children to use as a
Book to read from, or to commit to memory, I have thought that
the best plan of arranging what is to be learned, is that which I
have followed-(see Contents.)

May the Word of God, as here given, be blessed to many
a Christian child! The knowledge of the Gospels gained by
using this little Book will be very considerable and will lead, it
is hoped, to a further study of the Bible in future years. And
it may be that passages committed to memory in early days will
come into the mind again and again in times of trial, disappoint-
ment, and sorrow, and be of the greatest comfort on the bed of
sickness and in the hour of death.

Amesbury House, Bickley, Kent,
August, 1877.

The Author has been permitted to make what use he pleases of

the subjoined :—

Dear Sir,

LICHFIELD DIOCESAN TRAINING COLLEGE,
DERBY, JUNE 23, 1877.

I have carefully looked through your little work-" THE GOSPELS,
arranged in Short Lessons," &c., &c., and assure you that it will be
very useful to Teachers in Elementary Schools, and to Students in the
Training Colleges.

I shall gladly welcome its publication, and shall use it in this
College.

From a very careful examination of several portions of the Gospels,
the correct tabulation of which bespeaks a thorough acquaintance with
recent criticism, I am able to give an unqualified recommendation.

If my testimony will be of any avail, you are at liberty to make
what use of it you like,

Yours very truly,

T. HOWARD TWIST, M.A.,

(Principal.)