permitted to be present. When Christ restored the daughterof Jairus to life (MAKK, v. 37, LUKE, viii. 51), when he was transfigured on the mount (MAT. xvii. 1, 2, MARK, ix. 2, LUKE, ix. 28), and when he endured his agony in the garden (MAT. xvi. 36, 37, MARK, xiv. 32, 33), Peter, and James, and John, were his only attendants. That John was treated by Christ with greater familiarity than the other apostles is evident from Peter desiring him to ask Christ who should betray him, when he himself did not dare to propose the question (JOHN, Xiii. 24). He seems to have been the only apostle present at the crucifixion; and to him Jesus, just as he was expiring upon the cross, gave the strongest proof of his confidence and regard, by consigning to him the care of his mother (JOHN, xix. 26, 27).. As John had been witness to the death of our Saviour by seeing the blood and water issue from' his side, which a soldier had pierced (JOHN, xix. 34, 35), so he was one of the first that were made acquainted with his resurrection. Without any hesitation he believed this great event, though "as yet he knew not the scripture, that Christ was to rise from the dead" (JOHN, XX. 9). He was one of those to whom our Saviour appeared at the sea of Galilee; and he was afterwards, with the other ten apostles, a witness of his ascension into heaven (MARK, xvi. 19, LUKE, xxiv. 51). John' continued to preach the Gospel for some time at Jerusalem: he was imprisoned by the Sanhedrim, first with Peter only (ACTS, iv. 1, &c.), and afterwards with the other apostles (do. v. 17, 18). Some time after this second release, John and! Peter were sent by the other apostles to the Samaritans, whom Philip the Deacon had converted to the Gospel, that, through them, they might receive the Holy Ghost (do. viii. 14, 15). John informs us, in the Revelation, that he was banished to Patmos (REV. i. 9), an island in the Egean Sea. It is universally agreed that St. John published his Gospel in Asia; and that, when he wrote it, he had seen the other three Gospels. It is, therefore, not only valuable in itself, but also a tacit confirmation of the other three, with none of which it disagrees in any material point. There are various opinions respecting the time when this Gospel was written and published. It is generally placed at the year 68, though some contend for so late a date as 97. The four evangelists agree in promoting the common design, which was to collect in their admirable Memoirs of Christ, as the Gospels were originally termed, the most authentic and important materials from the mass of original or traditional evidence, well known to them all; and to condense, or rather to concentrate them, into the smallest compass, for the edification of the Church of Christ. The Gospels possess a simplicity of style and manner peculiar to themselves, and adapted to all ranks. "They were written" for the highest and noblest of all purposes, to instruct the world how to attain everlasting happiness in the mansions of bliss; "that mankind might believe," on reasonable evidence, “that JESUS is the CHRIST, the Son of GOD; and that believing they might have life in his name" (JOHN, XX. 31). CHAP. I. 1 The divinity, humanity, and office of Jesus Christ : 15 the testimony of John: 39 the calling of Andrew, Peter, &c. IN the beginning 'was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.' b d 1 God was the Word. Co. Cr. Ud. CHAP. I. • PRO. viii. 22—24: The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. CoL. i. 16, 17: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him. And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 1 JOHN, i. 1: That which was from the beginning. REV. i. 2: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. do. xix. 13: His name is called The Word of God. b PRO. viii. 30: Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him. JOHN, xvii. 5: And now O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory I had with thee before the world was. 1 JOHN, i. 2: The life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us. с © PHIL. ii. 6: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God. HEB. i. 8, 9: But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. JOHN, v. 18: The Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. do. x. e 2 The same God. was in the beginning with 3 'All things were made by him ;2 and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and "the life was the light of men. g 2 it. Ma. Cr. Bi. Gen. Ud. 33, 36: For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? * GEN. i. 1: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. f Ver. 10, Ps. xxxiii. 6: By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. WIS D. ix. 9: Wisdom was with thee: which knoweth thy works, and was present when thou madest the world, and knew what was acceptable in thy sight, and right in thy commandments. 1 Cor. viii. 6: To us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. EPH. iii. 9: Who created all things by Jesus Christ. CoL. i. 16: By him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him. HEB. i. 2: By whom also he made the worlds. 2 PET. iii. 5: For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water. REV. iv. 11: Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. 8 JOHN, v. 26: For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself. 1 JOHN, v. 11: This is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. JOHN, viii. 12: Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. do. ix. 5: As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. do. xii. 35, 46: Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and3 the darkness comprehended it not. A. D. 25. 6¶There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for a witness,5 to "bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. S He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of thas Light. 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the 'world knew him not. 6 perceived. We. P. testimony. Ham. testify conwhich, coming into the world, enlighteneth every man. -QONLAR, 191 This is the condemnation, that light is come iste de world, sud men loved darkness rather than light, because por deeds were evil. do. xii. 35; The words under mr. Era.v. S: Ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ve as in the Lord. *1 Cos.n.14: But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him: neifàer can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. Yor $5, MAL, iii. 1: Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me. MAT. iii. 1: In those days carte John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judara. xi, 10: This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. LUKE, iii. 2. 3: Annas and Caiaphas being the High Priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. And he came into all the country about, Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. * Jets, xix. 4: John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. *dowx, ii. 28: Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. Sce on Joux, viii, 12. *Rancic 2: The words under ver. 3. do. xi. 3: Through faith me nederstand that the worlds were framed by the word of God. Iwai, 21: The world by wisdom knew not God. 11 He came 'unto his own, and his own 'received him not. 12 But as many as "received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word was made 10 flesh, and t 9 the right, or privilege. A. V. See on MAT. x. 6. 10 became. Pu. * LUKE, xix. 14: His citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. "ISA. lvi. 5: Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. ROM. viii. 15: Ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. GAL. iii. 26: Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 2 PET. i. 4: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 1 JOHN, iii. 1: Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God. ▾ See on JOHN, iii. 3, 5. "MAT. i. 16, 20, 23: Of whom [Mary] was born Jesus, who is called Christ. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall' bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. LUKE, i. 31, 35: Behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. do. ii. 7: She brought forth her firstborn son. 1 TIM. iii. 16: God was manifest in the flesh. 1JOHN, i. 2: The life was manifested, and we have seen it. ROM. i. 3: Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh. GAL. iv. 4: God sent forth his Son, made of a woman. PHIL. ii. 7: [Christ Jesus] was made in the likeness of men. Y HEB. ii. 11, 14, 16, 17: For both he that sanctifieth and |