AND

HIS BIOGRAPHERS;

OR THE

REMARKS ON THE FOUR GOSPELS

REVISED WITH COPIOUS ADDITIONS.

BY

W. H. FURNESS.

A great deal is said about the beauty of the Scriptures, without reference

to any just principles of taste."

PHILADELPHIA:

CAREY. LEA AND BLANCHARD.

1838.

Entered, according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1838, by W. H. FURNESS, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

C. SHERMAN & Co. PRINTERS,

19 ST. JAMES ST.

PREFACE.

THIS Volume varies from the "Remarks on the Four Gospels," by the omission of two chapters of that work, and the addition of eight. The subject of the Miracles is discussed anew, not that the former discussion is supposed to contain any material error, but because it appears less satisfactory and more liable to be misapprehended than that contained in the present work, and also, because, since the publication of the Remarks, I have been aided by the criticisms of some whom I greatly respect, in giving, as I think, a better exposition of my views. Other omissions, and additions to a considerable extent have been made, (it is unnecessary to specify them,) by which the present becomes a new work, rather than a new edition of the former one; and the adoption of another title is justified. It now makes some approach, very distant indeed, to a life of our Saviour, and might perhaps be entitled "Hints towards a Life of Jesus."

The additional matter contained in this volume might well, in regard to quantity, have been published separately. But such is its character, I was unwilling to let it go forth except in connexion with the former work, lest it should be thought that I aim to pull down, when I am striving to build up; to explain away, when I would reveal and establish the truth; a misconstruction so erroneous and unjust that I would take all pains to guard against it,

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and one to which it is my hope that the reader, however he may dissent from me in particular instances, will not now be liable.

Still to the purchasers of the former volume an apology is due for superseding it, as the present work does; an apology, which it might not be easy to find, were pecuniary considerations the chief concern with them or with the writer. As it is, he seeks his justification for the manner in which he has published what he feels to be valuable truth, in the exceeding greatness of the theme, which must cause treatises, far more elaborate than any he has attempted, to be considered but as steps in the progress towards clearer and still clearer light.

For the views presented in these pages the author is alone responsible. The reader will look in vain for an exposition of the peculiar opinions of any denomination of Christians. The work makes pretensions to no such character. It is simply an attempt to state the convictions of an individual mind upon a subject of the greatest interest; to give expression to a deep sense of the vital truth of the divinest chapter in the history of the world; to bring home to other minds the reality of that momentous period, when a full revelation was made by the Father of lights, and this earth was honoured by the presence of a special messenger from Heaven.

To all who are seeking light-thirsting for a real, personal knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, the writer, with fraternal sympathy and respect, proffers the aid of this volume. Whether they assent to such of his statements as may be accounted peculiar, is not the chief concern. If the perusal of these pages tends to refresh and increase their sense of the truth of those matchless Records, to make them feel that there is far more contained therein than they have yet dreamed, his labour will