The Author’s Preface
The Bishop of Ely has explained in the Introduction the main object which I have had in view in publishing these volumes on S. Mark’s Gospel. I have long felt that in an age when purely “subjective” and hortatory preaching has become so popular, there is danger of the Church forgetting that she has an authoritative commission to teach as well as to admonish — not only to point out the way of salvation (though of necessity this must always be her highest duty), but also to make the Sacred History intellectually as well as spiritually edifying. In days when works of secular instruction are made so attractive, it seems most desirable not to lose sight of the fact that the Bible is a storehouse for the literary student, as well as a guide to eternal life.
Whenever it has been my privilege to give addresses at the early Cathedral Service on week-days, I have endeavoured, according to my ability, to offer to the congregation instruction rather than exhortation; at the same time I have sought to maintain their religious character by briefly suggesting at the close, in what way the immediate subject may be practically applied, leaving the fuller consideration for subsequent meditation in private.
After systematically going through a portion of S. Mark in this way, the Bishop, who was usually present at these services, desired me to commit the addresses to writing, and prepare them for publication, to further the object which his Introduction shows that he has so closely at heart. I would that the result of my labours were more worthy of his imprimatur, and better calculated to illustrate the principles which he seeks to establish.
For the manifold writings, both ancient and modern, to which I am indebted, I must direct the reader to the marginal references, and the notes which are subjoined to the several “portions.” I have, I trust, as a rule acknowledged any obligation that seemed to call for acknowledgment.
The frequent reference to the Talmud and Mishnah will show that many illustrations have been taken from Hebrew Literature. This happily is becoming an attractive source of information to all students of the Gospel History; and we would fain believe that the day is for ever closed when “Jews refused to teach those who were not of their faith,” and when, almost worse still, too many Churchmen “desired nothing better than the entire suppression of Jewish learning.” In this branch of my studies I, in common with many of this generation at Cambridge, owe a large debt of gratitude for the self-denying labours of a Tutor, the Rev. P. H. Mason, who almost single-handed kept alive the study of Hebrew in the University. For special assistance in preparing this book, I offer my sincere thanks to Dr. Schiller-Szinessy, the Reader in Talmudic and Rabbinic Literature at Cambridge. He has been ready at all times to place his copious stores of Jewish knowledge at my service; I have never applied to him for information without obtaining all that I required. Almost all the passages quoted from Hebrew authorities in the following pages, I have read with him in the originals, and we have verified together every reference. I trust therefore that the Jewish information, as far as it goes, will be accepted with confidence.
Two friends, the Archdeacon of Sudbury, and one of my brother chaplains, the Rev. H. F. St. John of Dinmore, have also kindly undertaken to revise the proof-sheets, and I am indebted to them for many suggested improvements made in the course of their revision.
The troublesome and usually uninteresting task of compiling an Index has been converted into a labour of love in the hands of my eldest daughter. I believe it will be found very fairly exhaustive, and will largely contribute to the convenience of the reader.
No one can realise more strongly than myself how open to criticism these pages are. I have probably aimed at far too much in attempting to adapt them to the threefold purpose stated on the Title-page. I cannot but think that they will be found useful for private study and for family reading; but I dare not feel confident that they will answer the main end for which they have been written, and awaken in the Clergy a desire to cultivate more largely the office of “teaching,” which can only be neglected with harm and loss to the Church. If they fail, I shall still be able to look back to many hours of delightful, and, I hope, not unprofitable, study of the Life of Him “in Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” I pray that they may meet with acceptance only in proportion as they tend to the best interests of the Church, and the greater glory of God.
H. M. L.
College, Ely,
The Feast of All Saints, 1884.