THE COTTAGE COMMENTARY. THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO S. LUKE. LONDON: JOSEPH MASTERS, ALDERSGATE STREET, AND NEW BOND STREET. MDCCCLXIV. 101. d. 384° "Hardly do we guess aright at things that are upon earth, and with labour do we find the things that are before us; but the things that are in Heaven, who hath searched out? And Thy counsel who hath known, except Thou give wisdom and send Thy HOLY SPIRIT from above ?"-Wisdom ix. 16, 17. THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO S. LUKE. CHAPTER I. 1 FORASMUCH as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us; "Most surely believed." These words might be translated "fully performed," or "accomplished." "The things" were the Incarnation, Birth, Life, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, both GOD and Man. By the expression "taken in hand," S. Luke seems to say that the writers to whom he alludes had done this of themselves, without being called of GOD to the work. Hence all these Gospels have perished, and only the four inspired by the HOLY GHOST have been preserved. 2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; 3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, B |