O ALMIGHTY GOD, WHO HAST INSTRUCTED THY HOLY CHURCH WITH THE HEAVENLY DOCTRINE OF THY EVANGELIST SAINT MARK; GIVE US GRACE, THAT BEING NOT LIKE CHILDREN CARRIED AWAY WITH EVERY BLAST OF VAIN DOCTRINE, WE MAY BE ESTABLISHED IN THE TRUTH OF THY HOLY GOSPEL, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD. IT IS GOOD FOR US TO BE HERE, AMEN. A PLAIN COMMENTARY ON THE FIRST CHAPTER OF St. Mark's Gospel. 1 The office of John the Baptist. 9 JESUS is baptized, 12 tempted; 14 He preacheth: 16 calleth Peter, Andrew, James and John. 23 healeth one that had a devil, 29 Peter's mother in law, 32 many diseased persons, 41 and cleanseth the leper. A VERY ancient tradition relates that St. Mark derived the materials of his Gospel, (under the HOLY SPIRIT,) from the communications of St. Peter the Apostle; with whom he is thought to have resided at Rome. What is remarkable, scarcely ever is St. Peter spoken of, but something is said or omitted which in no way can be 80 well accounted for, as by supposing that the sacred Narrative was, in some way, influenced by his dictation. But a circumstance of yet greater interest, is, the minute and vivid, painter-like manner in which this Evangelist handles every incident in the Life of his LORD and ours. In fact, the Gospel of St. Mark, though the shortest of all, is more minute, graphic, and particular, than any of the others. -invariably baptized them; to which well-known practice of the nation, our Blessed LORD referred in His farewell charge to His Disciples". The Forerunner, by the general Baptism of the Nation, here described, taught them that they had so entirely forsaken their duty, so far fallen short of the holiness which GoD required of them, that they were in His sight no better than strangers, and heathens. They were, therefore, "to be treated as themselves received gentile proselytes, by a Baptism and a new state of life; before they could be fit for the reception of the MESSIAS, or be admitted to His Kingdom." 6 And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey; A statement which seems almost copied from St. Matthew iii. 4, where see a long note. It is certain that St. Mark wrote his Gospel with that of St. Matthew lying open before him. 7 and preached, saying, There cometh One mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and 8 unloose. I indeed have baptized you with Water: but He shall baptize you with the HOLY GHOST. The reader is again referred to the notes on St. b St. Matt. xxviii. 19. 6 |