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…

¶A Harmony composed and made of three Evangelists, Matthew, Mark and Luke, with the Commentaries of John Calvin.

¶A Harmonie composed and made of three Euangelistes, Matthew, Marke and Luke, with the Commentaries of Iohn Caluine.

| | Luke 1. Matthew. | Mark. | 1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand, to set forth the story of those things, whereof we are fully persuaded, 2. As they have delivered them unto us, which from the beginning saw them their selves, and were Ministers of the word: 3. If seemed good also to me (most noble Theophilus) as soon as I had searched out perfectly all things from the beginning, to write unto the thereof from point to point; 4. That thou mightest acknowledge the certainty of those things, whereof thou hast been instructed.

| | Luke 1. Matthew. | Marke. | 1 FOrasmuch as many haue taken in hande, to sette forth the storie of those thinges, whereof we are fully perswaded, 2. As they haue deliuered them vnto vs, which from the beginning saw them their selues, and were Ministers of the word: 3. If seemed good also to me (most noble Theophilus) as soone as I had searched out perfectly all thinges from the beeginning, to write vnto the therof from poynt to poynt; 4. That thou mightest acknowledge the certentie of those things, wherof thou hast beene instructed.

Only Luke doth make a preface to his Gospel, that briefly he may show the cause whereby he was moved to write. That he speaketh to one man, it seemeth to be absurd: when that rather it was his duty by open sound of trumpet to call all men together to the faith. Therefore it seemeth not to be convenient, that he should dedicate to his Theophilus only, that doctrine which is not proper to one or other, but common for all. Hereof it came to pass, that divers thought it to be a name appellative, and all godly men to be called Theophilos, of loving God: but the Epitheton that is joined with it differeth from that opinion. Neither yet is that absurdity to be feared, which constrained them to seek such refuge. Neither doth the doctrine of Paul less belong to all men, because that of his Epistles, he directed some to certain Cities, and some to certain men. And truly if we considered the estate of their times, we should confess that Luke herein did godly and wisely. There were tyrants ready on every side, which with fear and terrors would hinder the course of wholesome doctrine. This gave an occasion or liberty to Satan and his ministers, to scatter clouds of errors, which might dim the pure light. And because that in keeping the purity of the Gospel, the common sort were little careful, and few did diligently consider what satan would devise, and how much danger lay hid in such deceitet. Therefore as every one did excel other with rare faith and singular gifts of the holy Ghost, so with greater study and diligence he ought to apply himself, that he might as much as in him lieth preserve the doctrine of godliness pure and free from all corruption. Such (as holy layers up of books, wherein laws are written) were chosen of GOD, faithfully to