curators were not difpofed to give any men difturbance upon account of difference of opinion in religious matters. Finally, the Apoftles of Jefus Chrift, we have reason to think, had an especial direction, and an especial protection. They, who were employed in teaching fo important a doctrine, and were enabled to work miracles upon others for confirming it, may be reasonably supposed to have been the subjects of fome wonderful interpofitions of Providence. And it must be reckoned very probable, that affairs would be fo over-ruled and influenced, as that these chosen men fhould be upheld, and enabled to fulfill their ministrie, and bear fuch a teftimonie to Jefus, as should be fufficient to lay a good foundation for the establishment of his Church in the world, and leave all thofe of the Jewish People, who did not receive him as the Meffiah, abfolutely inexcufable.

1. That the Evangelift is the fame as John Mark, and nephew to Barnabas. II. His Hiftorie from the New Teftament. III. From other Writers. IV. Teftimonies to his Gospel, in ancient Writers. V. Remarks upon them. VI. The Time of writing his Gospel, according to thefe ancient Writers, and the Sentiments of learned Moderns. VII. Characters of Time in the Gospel itself. VIII. Obfervations upon this Gospel.

The Evangelift the fame as John Mark.

I.

Mark, mentioned 1 Pet. V. 13. is the Evangelift. Tis generally, or even univerfally, allowed, that But it has been doubted, whether he be the fame as John Mark mentioned in the Acts, and fome of St. Paul's epiftles. And it appears from our collections out of ancient authors, that there were doubts about this in the minds of some in former times. Divers learned moderns are perfuaded, that they are different perfons. Of this number are (a) Cave, [who nevertheless thinks him (b) the fame Mark, that is mentioned by St. Paul in his fecond epiftle to Timothie] (c) Grotius, (d) Du Pin, and (e) Tillemont. Which laft, in his Ecclefiaftical Memoirs, makes two different articles for this name: one entitled, St. Mark the Evangelift, Apostle of Egypt, and Martyr: the other, St. John Mark, difciple and coufin of St. Barnabas. On the other hand

they

(a) S. Marcus Evangelifta, quem cum Joanne Marco, de quo Act. xii. 12, male nonnulli confundunt. H. L. T. i. p. 24.

(b) Cum enim illum epiftola fecunda ad Timotheum-Romam accerfiverat Paulus-Id. ib.

(e) Gr. Pr. in Marc.

(e) Mem. Ec. Tom. 2,

(d) Diff, Prelim. l. 2. ch. ii. § iv.

they are reckoned one and the fame by (ƒ) Fer. Jones, (8) Lightfoot, and (b) Wetstein.

I shall now without delay confider the reasons of those, who think there are two Marks mentioned in the New Teftament.

1. They fay, that Mark the Evangelift was converted and baptised by Peter, because he calls him his fon. 1 Pet. v. 13. But there is no reafon to fuppofe this of John Mark.

To which I anfwer. That needs not to be reckoned the conftant meaning of the expreffion. It may denote only great affection and tenderneffe, and a respect to faithful fervices: in like manner as Paul says of Timothie, Philip. ii. 22. that as a fon with the father he had ferved with him in the gospel. Grotius (i) and Du Pin (k) who mention this reason, feem not to have judged it conclufive. Moreover, if Mark was a convert of Peter, it does not follow, that he was not an early believer. For he might be one of that Apoftle's converts at his first preaching the gofpel at Jerufalem. Mark the Evangelift, upon that fuppofition, could not be one of the feventy: but he might be among the firft believers, and the fon of Marie. However, I choose not to infift upon this, but chiefly upon what was before mentioned: that the appellation, my fon needs not to be understood rigorously, as meaning a convert begotten to the faith of the gospel.

2. It is faid that (1) Mark, the companion of Paul, was called John: but the Evangelift is never fo called by the ancients, who mention him. To which I anfwer. It is true, that Paul's companion is fometimes called John, as Acts xiii. 5. and 13. But we are alfo informed that he

(f) New and full Method. vol. 3. ch. vi. p. 65. ... 70.

was

(g) Lightfoot is making obfervations upon the first epiftle of St. Peter. "He fends this epiftle, fays he, by Sylvanus, Paul's old attendant, but now with Peter... His naming of Mark with him calls our thoughts back to what has been mentioned of Mark heretofore: his being with Paul at Rome, and his coming from him into the Eaft. To fuppofe two Marks, one with Peter, and another with Paul, is to breed confufion, where there needeth not. It is eafily feen, how John Mark came into familiarity with Paul and Peter. And other Mark we can find none in the New Teftament, unless of our own invention. . . He it was, that wrote the Gofpel. Lightfoot Harm. of the N. T. Vol. i. p. 336.

...

(b) Nihil vetat, quo minus fimpliciter cum Victore et Theophylacto hunc eundem Marcum intelligamus, quoties illius nomen in Actis et Epiftolis reperimus. Wett. Pr. in Marc. Tom. i. p. 551.

(i) Adde, quod Joannes Marcus inter primos Chriftianos: Marcus hic, ut videtur, Petri opera converfus. 1 Pet. v. 13. Nam tales peculiariter filios fuos Apoftoli vocabant. 1 Cor. iv. 15. Gal. iv. 19. Gr. Pr. in Marc.

(k) Il y a plus d'apparence, qu'il a reçû l'evangile de S. Pierre, qui l'appelle fils, peutêtre parcequ'il l'avoit engendré en J. C. Diff. Prel. I. 2. che 2. § iv.

(1) Joannes quoque ille Mariæ filius, Barnabæ confanguineus,.. Marcus vocabatur: quem multi hunc noftrum fcriptorem putant. Quibus quo minus affentiar, moveor veterum auctoritate, qui hunc fcriptorem Joannem nun quam, Marcum femper vocant... Grot. Pr. in Marc.

L'Evangelifte n'eft appellé nulle part du nom de Jean, qui étoit le nom propre de celuici. Du Pin, ubi fupra,

was furnamed Mark. So Acts xii. 12. And when he had confidered the thing, he came to the house of Marie, the mother of John, whofe furname was Mark. And ver. 25... and took with them John, whofe furname was Mark. And he is feveral times mentioned by the furname, Mark, only. Acts xv. 39. 2 Tim. iv. 11. Col. iv. 10. Philem. ver. 24. Secondly, fuch of the ancients, as supposed Mark, the Evangelift, to have been the fame with him mentioned in the Acts, muft alfo have fuppofed, that he was called John, as well as Mark, though they have generally mentioned him by his furname.

3. It is faid, that (m) John Mark was much with Paul, Mark, the Evangelift, with Peter. So fay the ancients in general.

I answer: It is not at all impoffible, but that Mark might be sometimes with Paul, at other times with Peter. As may appear by and by.

As these reasons therefore do not appear to me conclufive, I rather think, that there is but one Mark in the New Teftament, John Mark, the Evangelift, and fellow-laborer of Paul and Barnabas, and Peter.

His hiftorie from the N.T. as with Paul.

II. I now proceed to write the hiftorie of John Mark, from the New Teftament, mentioning, as they offer, some obfervations, fhewing his acquaintance with Peter, as well After which I fhall take notice of fome other things said of him by the ancients.

He was the fon of Marie, a pious woman at Jerufalem, and an early believer, at whofe house the difciples ufed to meet, and that in trouble. fome and difficult times, as well as at other feafons. Peter having been delivered out of prison by an angel, came to the house of Marie, mother of John, whofe furname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying. Acts xii. 12. So that the very first mention of John Mark aflures

us of Peter's intimacie in that familie.

That deliverance of St. Peter happened in the year 44. about the fame time that Paul and Barnabas came to Jerufalem from Antioch with contributions for the relief of the brethren in Judea in the time of a famine, or fcarcity. And it is faid at the end of that chapter. And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerufalem, when they had fulfilled their miniftrie, and took with them John, whofe furname was Mark. This, with fome other things to be hereafter mentioned, may difpofe us to think, that this John Mark is the fame, who in Col. iv. 10. is called fifter's fon

to Barnabas.

Mark therefore went now from Jerufalem to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas. And, when fome fhort time afterwards, they went abroad to other countreys, Mark accompanied them, as their minifter. Acts xiii. 5. They went to Cyprus, and preached the word in that countrey. But when they returned to the continent, and came on fhore at Perga in Pamphylia, he departed from them, and returned to Jerufalem. ver. 13. He therefore did not attend them in their farther progreffe to Antioch in Pifidia, Iconium, and other places, but went to Jerufalem.

And

(m) Et ita Petro addunt [Veteres] comitem, ac difcipulum, ut non tantum de Barnaba, fed et de Paulo, quem Joannes Marcus poft illud frigufculum fectatus eft... nihil meminerint. Grot, ibid.

Il étoit difciple de S. Pierre, et attaché à lui, dans le tems que l'autre étoit avec S. Paul, et S. Barnabe. Du Pin. ibid.

And now, very probably, he converfed again with Peter, and the other Apoftles, and was prefent with them at their difcourfes, and their devotions. For, as I apprehend, all the Apostles were ftill in Judea except James the fon of Zebedee, who had been beheaded by Herod Agrippa, in the beginning of the year 44.

i Paul and Barnabas having finished their progreffe, returned to Antiach, and there abode. Whilft they were there, debates arose about circumcifing Gentil converts. Which determined Paul and Barnabas to go to Jerufalem. That controverfie being decided, they returned to Antioch.

Some time afterwards Paul faid unto Barnabas: Let us go again, and vifit our brethren, in every city, where we have preached the word, and fee bow they do. And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whofe furname was Mark. But Paul thought it not good to take him with them, wha bad departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. Barnabas, however, perfifted in his refolution, and went with Mark to Cyprus. And Paul chofe Silas to accompany him. Acts xv. 36.... 41.

Hereby we perceive the good temper of Mark. He was now at Antioch, and was willing to attend Paul and Barnabas in their journeys, and actually went with Barnabas to Cyprus. And though Paul would not now accept of his attendance, he was afterwards fully reconciled to him. Mark is mentioned in feveral of his epiftles fent from Rome, during his confinement there. I fuppofe, I fhall hereafter fhew, that St. Paul's fecond epiftle to Timothie was writ in the fummer of the year 61. not long after Paul's arrival at Rome. In that epiftle he writes to Timathie, to come to him. And he defires him to bring Mark with him. 2 Tim. iv. II. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the miniftrie. Where Mark then was, does not clearly appear. It is probable, that he was either at Ephefus, or at fome other place, where Timothie would find him in his journey from Ephefus to Rome. And, unquestionably, Mark did come with Timothie. He is mentioned in two of the epiftles writ by the Apoftle at Rome. Philem. ver. 24. and Col. iv. 10. Ariftarchus falutes you, and Mark, fifter's fon to Barnabas, touching whom ye received commandments. If he come unto you, receive him. Mark is not mentioned in the epiftle to the Philippians. Perhaps he was not acquainted there, or upon fome occafion was abfent from the Apoftle, when that epiftle was writ. Or rather, he is comprehended in those general expreffions. ch. iv. 21. The brethren that are with me, greet you. For in the epiftle to the Philippians St. Paul does not mention his fellow-laborers by name, as he does in the epiftles to the Coloffians, and to Philemon. Nor is he mentioned in the epiftle to the Ephefians. To those who admit the true date of that epiftle the reason will be obvious. It was writ, and sent away, before Mark came to be with St. Paul at Rome.

This is all we can fay concerning St. Mark from the New Teftament. But from that we can collect his excellent character, and may conclude, that after this time he no longer attended on Paul. It is not improbable, that going now into Afia, he there met with St. Peter, and accompanied him, till that Apoftle came to Rome, where he fuffered mars

3

tyrdom.

tyrdom. Where likewife Mark wrote, and published the Gospel that goes by his name.

From other writers.

III. We will now inquire, whether there is any thing is other writers to illuftrate the hiftorie of this Evangelift. Gave fays, without hesitation, that (n) Mark was a Levite. But he does not fay, upon what authority. I do not remember, that it is in any of the writers, of which I have given a particular account, excepting (0) Bede. It is alfo in a commentarie upon St. Mark's Gofpel, ufually joyned with Jerome's works, though (p) allowed not to be his.. That writer fays, that (9) Mark was a Levite, and a Prieft. It is not unlikely, that this was inferred from Mark's relation to Barnabas, who was a Levite of Cyprus. Comp. Acts. iv. 36. and Col. iv. 10. But then, Cave fhould not have denied, as he does in the fame place, that Mark the Evangelift is the fame as John Mark, mentioned in the Acts. For that, as I apprehend, is to remove out of the way the fole ground of this opinion.

By Eufebe we are informed, it (r) was faid, that Mark going into Egypt, firft preached there the Gospel, which he had writ, and planted there many churches. And afterwards, in another chapter, he fays, that (s) in the eighth year of Nero, Anianus, the first Bishop of Alexandria after Mark, the Apoftle and Evangelift, took upon him the care of that church. Of which Anianus he gives a great character, as beloved of God, and a wonderful man.

Epiphanius fays, that foon after Matthew, Mark, companion of Peter, compofed his Gofpel at Rome. And having (t) writ it, he was fent by Peter into the countrey of the Egyptians.

Jerome, in his article of St. Mark, as (u) before quoted, after other things, fays: "Taking (x) the Gofpel, which himself had compofed, he

went

(n) S. Marcus, Evangelifta, quem cum Johanne Marco, de quo Act. xii, 12. male nonnulli confundunt, erat Levites. H. L. T. i. p. 24.

(0) Tradunt autem hunc, natione Ifraclitica, et facerdotali ortum profapia, ac poft paffionem ac refurrectionem Domini Salvatoris, ad prædicationem Apoftolorum Evangelica fide a facramentis imbutum, atque ex eorum fuiffe numero, de quibus fcribit Lucas, quia multa etiam turba facerdotum obediebat fidei. Bed. Prol. in. Marc.

(p) Vid. Benedi&in. Monitum, et Petav. Animadv. ad Epiph. H. 21. num, vi.

p. 88.

(9) Marcus Evangelifta Dei, Petri difcipulus, Leviticus genere, et facerdos, in Italia hoc fcripfit Evangelium. Pref. in Marc. ap. Hierom. T. v. p. 886. (*) Τῶτον δὲ μάρκον πρῶτον φασιν ἐπὶ τῆς ἀιγύπτε τειλάμενον, τὸ ἐυαγγέλιον καὶ συνεγράψατο κηρύξαι, ἐκκλησίας τε πρῶτον ἐπ ̓ αυτῆς αλεξανδρείας συσήσασε Dai. x. A. H. E. 1. 2. cap. 16.

δη

(α) . . . πρῶτος μετὰ μάρκον τὸν ἀπόςολον καὶ ἐυαγγέλισἦν, τῆς ἐν αλεξανδρείας παροικίας ἀνοιχνὸς τὴν λειτεργίαν διαδέχεται ανής θεόφιλος και πάντα θαυμάσιος. Το cap. 24.

(1) και γράψας ἀποτέλλεται ὑπὸ τὸ ἀγία πέτρα εἰς τὴν τῶν αιγυπτίων χώ

...

H. 51. num. vi.

(u) Vol. x. p. 92. 93.

(x) Affumto itaque Evangelio, quod ipfe confecerat, perrexit ad Ægyptum, et primus Alexandriæ Chriftum annuntians conftituit ecclefiam... Denique Philo.. videns Alexandriæ primam ecclefiam adhuc judaizantem, quafi in

laudem