PARAGRAPH. I. The second Particular of the first Generall.
MY propounded method leadeth mee now, to examine in the second place, what severall. Evangelasts wrote, concerning the severall Suppers. Which beeing cleered, much confusion will be chased away, and the greatest dubious matters, will distinctly appeare.
S. Matthew Chapter 26. speaketh of the Passeover from v. 17. to the 25. inclusivê.
Saint Marke Chapter 14. doth the like from vers. 12. to vers 21. inclusivê, also.
Saint Luke Chapter 22.7. beginneth a large narrative, from the beginning of the preparation, to the Supper it selfe; and at the 14. verse the continuance of that Supper till the 19. vers. exclusivè.
The Passeover which the three Evangelists had described so fully, Saint Iohn omitteth; and toucheth onely at the heele, or end of that Supper. Iohn 13.2. Supper being ended: viz. the Supper of the Paschall lambe. For neither was the sacred supper then instituted, or begunne, much lesse ended: No nor yet was the Common supper; during which so many matters of moment were acted: (of which hereafter:) and therefore the words must be understood of the ending of Paschall.
Concerning the second Supper, the common, or ordinary Supper, Saint Mat∣thew said nothing: and Saint Marke nothing. And Lucas usus est praeoccupatione. Saint Luke recordeth the last supper before the second (saith Barradius) Tom. 4. pag. 64. concerning the history of the Supper, adding that hee learned it of Saint Augustine. Yet Saint Luke admirably declareth things done, and words spoken, from the 21. vers. to the 30. inclusivè which in fairest probability were done, and spoken at the second supper, rather than in the first, or in the third supper.
Saint Iohn writing last, and seeing memorable passages omitted in the second supper, hee onely points at the passeover, making the end of it to be the be∣ginning of the second supper. Nor doth hee mention, or so much as point at the third supper at all; because it was throughly discribed by all the other three Evangelists: but applyeth himselfe wholy to a large, and full explanation of things done, and words spoken at the second supper. Iohn 13. from vers. 2. to the 30. vers. inclusively.