A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Mark
The Goſpel according to St. MARK.
Note, 1. That this is the ſame Mark againſt whom as not fit to be taken with them, St. Paul ſharply contended with Barnabas, even to parting a ſunder. But it was not as charging him with any crime, but as unfit to be taken with them in ſo long and hard a work, which he before deſerted. 2. It is ſaid by ſome to be a tradition, that Mark wrote this from the Mouth of Peter; but that is uncertain. 3. It is queſtioned, ſeeing, it is only the eleven Apoſtles, to whom Chriſt promiſed the Eminent help of the Spirit to bring all his Doctrine to their remembrance, and lead them into all Truth; How can we be ſure that Mark and Luke who were no Apoſtles, and had not this promiſe did never miſtake in their writing the Goſpel? Anſ. Tho Chriſt promiſed not Infallibility to all Preachers then, he promiſed and gave the Eminent Miraculous gifts to the Spirit to others, as well as to the Apoſtles, as appeared in Stephen, Philip, and others. And this ſpirit was to ſit them for the work to which they were called, which his miracles by them atteſted. 2. And the Apoſtles that then lived, approved theſe writings of Mark and Luke, and ſo did the Churches where the gifts of the Spirit did then moſt abound; who alſo delivered them down to us.
Whether this Mark was Biſhop of Alexandria, or only a tranſient Evangeliſt there a while, is an Hiſtorical controverſie of no great Moment. When Antioch had at once ſo many great Apoſtles, Prophets, and Teachers, and no one of them then a Biſhop to rule the reſt as their Paſtor, we may well conjecture that the caſe of Alexandria did not much differ from that of Antioch (and Jeruſalem where neither James nor any one was Governour of the Apoſtles.)
The Reader muſt not expect that I repeat at large the Paraphraſes or Notes which are written on Matthew, when the ſame Hiſtory and words are by Mark repeated.