The works of the Reverend and learned John Lightfoot D. D., late Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge such as were, and such as never before were printed : in two volumes : with the authors life and large and useful tables to each volume : also three maps : one of the temple drawn by the author himself, the others of Jervsalem and the Holy Land drawn according to the author's chorography, with a description collected out of his writings.

Reason of the Order.

NOW that John is no more to appear in publick being committed close prisoner by Herod, as this Section relateth, the very looking back to the preceding Section which concludeth with a solemn speech of Johns; and the casting forward that there is not one speech more of his to be found henceforth in all the Evangelists, this doth suffi∣ciently prove and assert the proper order and subsequence of this Section to the former: especially this being added and observed, that all the Evangelists do unanimously relate that our Saviours journey into Galilee, which is the very next thing that any of them do mention, was not till after John was shut up in prison. John speaks it the least plain,

and yet he speaks it plain enough, as shall be observed at the next Section. Now if it be scrupled or wondred at, why Luke should mention Johns imprisonment before the menti∣on of Christs being baptized by him; the considerate observing of Lukes method will give an answer to that doubt, for there the Evangelist in one story comprehendeth the whole Ministery of John, having no more to speak of it, in all his Gospel: He relateth what John preached to all that came to be baptized by him, and what particularly to the Pharisees, what to the Publicans, and what to the Souldiers: and divers other things saith he (besides those particulars mentioned) He preached to the people: And he was al∣so as plain and round with Herod, as he had been with the rest of the people, so that Herod at last shut him up in prison. And so he compileth and wrappeth up the story of the tenour and success of Johns Ministery in general, to all sorts of people in that brief relation, and then he cometh to the particular relation of his baptizing Christ.

And if it be scrupled again why I take not in the very fame story with this of this Section, which is related in Matth. 14. 3, 4, 5. and Mark 6. 17, 18, 19, 20. as most Harmo∣nists of the Evangelists do, it is because that relation will fall and come in very pertinent∣ly and methodically, as the story of a thing past in the place where it lies: and seeing that this Section tells the story very full, the bringing of those Texts of Matthew and Mark hither, would inevitably cause a chasma or hiatus in the story there, when we come to it, through the want of them, which would be very improper, or would cause a repetition of them there, which would not be very proper.