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.

The Epistle to the READER.

Gentle Reader,

THE veil of the Sanctuary was supported by four pillars, and wrought with great variety of works and colours: So is the Story of the veil of Christs flesh by the four Evangelists, and the Texture of it of like variety. For one relateth what another hath omitted, one more largely, what another more brief, one more plain, what another less, one before what another after, one after one manner, and another after another: And so they bring their several pieces of Imbroidery, differing in colours, but not in substance, va∣rious in workmanship, but not in the ground-work, to constitute and make up a perfect and sacred Tapestry and Furniture in the House of the Lord: And car∣rying several faces in the manner of their writing and composal, like those li∣ving Creatures in Ezekiel and the Revelation, yet they sweetly and Harmoni∣ously meet together in the one body and compacture of a perfect Story.

To sew these parcels together into one piece, and so to dispose and place them in their proper order, as the continuance and Chronical method of the History doth require, is, hic labor hoc opus, a thing of no small pains and difficulty, and yet a thing that with pains and industry may be brought to pass: For in many passages and dislocations the Text hath shewed the proper place of such dislocated parcels, and the proper way and manner to join them where they should be joined, so plainly; and in all places it hath hinted this so surely, though some∣times more obscurely, that serious study and mature deliberation, may certainly fix and settle them. Divers great and learned Pens have laboured in this work, both Ancient and Modern, both Romish and Protestant, but hardly any, if any at all, in our own mother Tongue, so fully and largely as a Work of this nature doth require: this hath incited me, though the unfittest of all others, for a task of so much Learning, Iudgment, and Seriousness, to attempt this work; and if possibly my dimness might, to give some light and facility to the History of the Gospel, and if my poorness could, some contribution towards the building of Sion.

The Method that I prescribed to my self in this undertaking (some glimpse whereof thou maist see in this present Parcel) was, 1. To lay the Text of the Evangelists in that order, which the nature and progress of the Story doth neces∣sarily require. 2. To give a Reason of this Order, why the Text is so laid, more largely or more briefly, according as the plainness, or difficulty of the connexion doth call for it. 3. To give some account of the difficulties in the language of the Original, as any came to hand, either being naturally so in the Greek it self, or being made difficulties when they were not so, by the curiosity, misconstruction, or self-end-seeking of some Expositors. 4. And lastly, to clear and open the sense and meaning of the Text all along as it went, especially where it was of more ab∣struseness and obscurity.

These two last things did I assay and go on withal a great way in the work, with much largeness and copiousness, both concerning the language, and the man∣ner. For, for the first, I did not only poise the Greek in the ballance of its own Country, and of the Septuagint, but I also examined translations in divers languages, produced their sense, and shewed cause of adhering to, or refusing of their sense, as I conceived cause.

And for the second, I alledged the various Expositions and interpretations of Commentators, both ancient and modern, and others that spake to such and such places occasionally, I examined their Expositions, and gave the Reader reason

to refuse or imbrace them as cause required. When seeing the Work in this way likely to rise to vastness of bulk it self, and of trouble to the Reader, I chose to abridg this first part for a trial, and therein having expressed only those things which were most material for the understanding of the Text where it is less plain (for where it is plain enough, why should I spend time and labour about it?) And spoken mine own thoughts upon it, and omitted (unless it be for a taste of what I had done) the glosses and thoughts of others: I now wait for the di∣rection and advice of my learned and loving Friends and Readers, whether to exhibite the other parts that are to follow (by Gods good blessing and assistance) in that large and voluminous method that at the first I prescribed to my self, or in that succiseness that this present parcel holdeth out.

I have partly chosen, and have partly been constrained, to tender this work to publick view by pieces, whereof only this, and this but a small one neither ap∣pears at this time. I have chosen so to do, that I might give the world my thoughts upon the Evangelists as the Lord giveth time: for who would defer to do any thing of such a work, till he have done all, since our lives are so short and un∣certain, and the work so long and difficult? And I have been constrained thus to do, partly because of mine other occasions, many and urgent, which deny me opportunity to follow that business as such a bulk would require: and partly be∣cause of the straits of the times, which have straitned our Presses, that they Print but rarely any thing voluminous. Every year by Gods permission and good assist∣ance, shall yield its piece, till all be finished, if the Lord spare life, health and liberty thereunto.

Divers things were fitting to have been premised to a work of this nature; but because, that if they should all be set before this small piece that we now exhibit, the Preface or Prolegomena would be larger than the Book it self: therefore have I reserved to every piece that shall come forth, its own share and portion. And the things that I have thought upon, and hewed out unto this purpose are these.

• 1. To fix the certain year of our Saviours birth, as a thing very fit to be looked after, and to shew the certain grounds whereupon to go, that our fixing upon such a year may be warranted and without wavering: This have I premised to this first part, wherein comes the Story and Treatise of our Saviours birth.
• 2. To give account of all the dislocations of Texts and Stories in the Old Testament, which are exceeding many, to shew where is their proper place and order, and to give the reason of their dislocation: And this being so copious and frequent in the Old Testament, the like will be thought the less strange and uncouth in the New.
• 3. To make a Chorographical description of the Land of Canaan, and those adjoyning places that we have occasion to look upon as we read the Gospel, a thing of no small necessity, for the clearer understanding of the Story.
• 4. To make a Topographical description of Jerusalem, and of the Fabrick of the Temple, which will facilitate divers passages in the Gospel, which are of no small obscurity.
• 5. To give some account and Story of the State and Customs of the Iews in these times when the Gospel began, and was first preached among them, out of their own and other Writers, which things the Evangelists mention not, and yet which conduce not a little to the understanding of the Evangelists.

These as things very necessary for the matter in hand, shall wait severally upon the several parts that shall follow, as the Lord shall please to vouchsafe ability, time, health and safety.

From my Chamber in Westminster, Octob. 1. 1644.