The variety of the individual elements that make up the New Testament serves several important ends. The different parts of Scripture thereby illustrate, support, and explain each other; and it thus carries within it- self manifold and varied evidence of its truth self-con- sistent, harmonious, divine. The four narratives of the life of Christ present that combination of substantial unity with circumstantial variety that marks the tes- timony of independent witnesses; and, written with special reference to the circumstances and wants of their original readers, and bringing into prominence the different aspects of the Saviour's character, they at once supplement and confirm each other. They present to us, as has been observed, " four aspects, but one portrait; for, if the attitude and the accessories vary, the features and the expression are the same." The Gospel of IMat the w— according to early tradition the Hebrew Gospel — exhibits Jesus as the Jfessiah fid- filling the law and tlie prophets; that of Mark, deriving its lifelike details from the communications of Peter, and written primarily for Roman use, depicts to us in rapid but vivid outlines Jesus putting forth his mighty power in action; that of Luke, the close companion of Paul, prepared for the use of the Greek world, portrays
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Jesus as the Friend of man, the universal Saviour; while that of John, written late in life at Ephesus for the fuller instruction of those already within the Church, completes the picture by presenting Jesus pre- eminently as the Son of God, and revealing to us the highest aspects of his teaching in the circle of his chosen disciples. In the book of Acts we find that the facts of the Saviour's life and deatli and resurrec- tion have become the fundamental doctrines of the Church ; their significance is proclaimed and their pow- er attested. The foundation of the Cluirch is followed by its organization and training, as developed in the Epistles. The truths announced in the Gospels and proclaimed in the Acts are here expanded, defined, vindicated in opposition to error or misunderstanding, and brought to bear on the manifold relations of life. In the Epistles we tind the different aspects of the truth apprehended and applied by men under various phases of experience and with reference to various exi- gencies; and while the Epistles thus form a practical supplement to the Gospels, they are complementary to each other, and fill up through their combination the perfect image of the faith, hope, and love represented by Paul, Peter, and John.
From various early notices it would appear that the books were, as was natural, first grouped imder the two general divisions of evangelic and apostolic writings {ivayyiXiov and o cnruffroXoi; or to. axonroKiKo). The more detailed information which we obtain from the oldest extant MSS., versions, and catalogues of the books given by the fathers exhibits substantially the same arrangement as that now followed in our Bibles. But few copies contained the whole New Testament; most frequently the Gospels were contained in one volume, the Acts and Epistles in another; while the Apocah'pse, which was less employed in public worship, was com- paratively seldom associated with the other books. The general order of the books was as follows : Gospels, Acts, Catholic Epistles, Pauline Epistles, Apocalypse. From this arrangement there are, no doubt, individual deviations, especially as regards the position of the book of Acts; and several of the ancient versions and most of the catalogues place the Epistles of Paul, as the\' stand in the English Bible, before the Catholic Epistles. The order followed within these larger groups seems to have been from an early period very much the same as at present. The four Gospels are almost constantly found in their familiar order; and in the Pauline Epis- tles the letter to the Hebrews exhibits almost the only variation, being sometimes — and indeed most frequently — inserted before the Pastoral Epistles, sometimes an- nexed at the close (see Scrivener's IntTod. to Criticism of N'. T. p. 60, etc.). The arrangement, in the case of the Gospels, was probably based on the order in which they were supposed to be written; in the case of Paul's Epistles, on the relative importance of the churches or individuals addressed. The Apocalypse has always, when received, been placed appropriately at the end. We can hardly fail to recognise the Provi- dence by which the Church has been guided in the in- ternal arrangement of her sacred records, so that they shall present a consecutive teaching; the main outlines of which are well set forth by one who has recently ap- plied himself to illustrate the value of the order of the New Testament in this respect. The New Testament " begins with the person of Christ, and the facts of his manifestation in the flesh, and the words which he gave from his Father; and accustoms us by degrees to be- hold his glory, to discern the drift of his teaching, and to expect the consequences of his work. It passes on to his body, the Church, and opens the dispensation of his Spirit, and carries us into the life of his people, yea, down into the secret places of their hearts; and there translates the announcements of God into the experi- ences of men. and discovers a conversation in heaven and a life which is hid with Christ in God. It works out practical applications, is careful in the details of