A harmony upon the the three Evangelists, Matthew, Mark and Luke with the commentary…A harmonie vpon the the three Euangelists, Matthew, Mark and Luke with the commentarie…

Although that is part of the Gospel which we have set down before out of Matthew and Luke, yet it is not without a cause that Mark ⟨p. 106⟩accounteth the beginning of the Gospel at the preaching of John Baptist. For as it is recorded in the first of John, that then the law and the Prophets were ended. The law and the Prophets to John, and since the kingdom of God, Luke. 16. 16. And to this very aptly agreeth the testimony of Malachi, which he allegeth. The Lord that he might the more incense the minds of men to the desire of the promised salvation, had ordained for a time, that the people should be without new prophesies, and we know that Malachi was the last of the lawful and certain Prophets. Also least the hungry Jews should in the mean while faint, he exhorteth them that they should keep themselves under the law of Moses, until the promised redemption should appear. And he maketh mention of the law only, because that the doctrine of the Prophets doth differ nothing from the same: but it was only an Appendix & more full exposition, that the whole manner of governing the Church might depend upon the law. And it is no new or unaccustomed matter in the scripture, to comprehend the prophesies under the name of the law: because that all of them were referred to them, as to their fountain and principal point. And the Gospel was not an inferior addition to the law, but a new manner of teaching, which abrogateth that first. Malachi also discerning a double estate of the Church, appointeth the one under the law, and beginneth the other under the gospel. For it is not to be doubted but that he meaneth John Baptist, when he saith: Behold, I will send my messenger: because (as it is now said) here is an express distinction made between the law, and the new order & estate of the Church, which was to be in the same room. In the same sense he had said a little before (that which is cited by Mark: for the places are very like) Behold I send Elijah the Prophet to you, before that great day of the Lord shall come. Also, behold I send my messenger, who shall make clean the way before me, then shall the Governor, whom ye seek, come to his temple. Because that he promiseth in both these places a better estate of the Church, then was under the Gospel, without doubt the beginning of the Gospel is thereby noted.

Although that is parte of the Gospell which we haue set downe beefore out of Matthew and Luke, yet it is not without a cause that Marke