St. John, in general different from what are given to him by the other evangelists, yet, under this diverfity, there is a fimilitude of manner, which indicates that the actions and difcourfes proceeded from the fame perfon. I should have laid little stress upon a repetition of actions fubftantially alike, or of dif→ courses containing many of the fame expreffions, because that is a fpecies of refemblance, which would either belong to a true history, or might eafily be imitated in a falfe one. Nor do I deny, that a dramatic writer is able to sustain propriety and distinction of character, through a great variety of separate incidents and fituations. But the evangelifts were not dramatic writers; nor poffeffed the talents of dramatic writers; nor will it, I believe, be fufpected, that they ftudied uniformity of character, or ever thought

of

any fuch thing, in the perfon who was the fubject of their hiftories. Such uniformity, if it exist, is on their part casual; and if there be, as I contend there is, a perceptible resemblance of manner, in paffages, and between difcourfes, which are in them

felves

felves extremely diftinct, and are delivered by hiftorians writing without any imitation

of, or reference to, one another, it affords a just presumption, that these are, what they profess to be, the actions and the discourses of the fame real perfon; that the evangelifts wrote from fact, and not from imagination.

The article in which I find this agreement moft ftrong, is in our Saviour's mode of teaching, and in that particular property of it, which confifts in his drawing of his doctrine from the occafion; or, which is nearly the same thing, raising reflections from the objects and incidents before him, or turning a particular discourse then paffing into an opportunity of general inftruction.

It will be my bufinefs to point out this manner in the three first evangelists; and then to enquire, whether it do not appear also, in feveral examples of Chrift's dif courses, preferved by St. John.

The reader will obferve in the following quotations,

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quotations, that the italic letter contains the reflection, the common letter the incident or occafion from which it springs.

Mat, xii. 49, 50. "Then they said unto him, Behold thy mother and thy brethren ftand without, defiring to speak with thee. But he answered, and faid unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he ftretched forth his hands towards his disciples, and faid, Behold my mother and my brethren; for whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the fame is my brother, and fifter, and mother,

Mat. xvi. 5. "And when his difciples were come to the other fide, they had forgotten to take bread; then Jefus faid unto them, Take heed, and beware of the leaven of the Pharifees, and of the Sadducees. And they reasoned among themselves, faying, It is because we have taken no bread.-How is it that ye do not understand, that I fpake it not to you concerning bread, that ye fhould beware of the leaven of the Pharifees, and of

the

the Sadducees? Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the DOCTRINE of the Pharifees and of the Sadducees."

"Then

Mat. xv. 1, 2. 10, 11. 17-20. came to Jefus Scribes and Pharifees, which were of Jerufalem, faying, Why do thy difciples tranfgrefs the traditions of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear and understand, not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man, but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. Then anfwered Peter, and faid unto him, Declare unto us this parable. And Jesus said, Are ye alfo yet without understanding? Do ye not yet underftand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth, goeth into the belly, and is caft out into the draught? but those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart, and they defile the man; for out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, falfe witness, blafphemies;

blafphemies; these are the things which defile

Our

a man, BUT TO EAT WITH UNWASHEN HANDS DEFILETH NOT A MAN." Saviour, upon this occafion, expatiates rather more at large than ufual, and his difcourfe alfo is more divided, but the concluding fentence brings back the whole train of thought to the incident in the firft verfe, viz. the objurgatory queftion of the Pharifees, and renders it evident that the whole fprung from that circumstance.

Mark x. 13, 14, 15. "And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them, and his difciples rebuked those that brought them; but when Jefus faw it, he was much displeased, and faid unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of fuch is the kingdom of God: verily I fay unto you, whosoever fhall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein."

Mark i. 16, 17. "Now as he walked by the fea of Galilee, he faw Simon and Andrew

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