The most ancient Harmony of the Gospels of which we have any account was composed by Tatian of Syria in the 2d century ; but it is lost (see II. A. Daniel's Tatianits der Apologet., Halle, 1837, 8vo). In the 3d century Ammonius* was tbe author of a Harmony supposed to be still extant. Eusebius of Cmsarea also composed a Harmony of the Gospels about A.D. 315. In it Ile divided the Gospel history into ten canons or tables, according as different facts are related by one or more of the evangelists. These ancient Harmonies, however, differ in character from such as belong to modern times. They are summaries of the life of Christ, or indexes to the four Gospels, rather than a chronological arrangement of different facts, accompanied by a reconciliation of apparent contradictions. In modern times, Andreas Osian der published his Harmony of the Gospels in 1537. He adopted the principle that the evangelists con stantly wrote in chronological order. Cornelius Jansen's Concordia Evang,elica was published in 1549 ; R. Stephanus, HallIZO7Zia Evang. (1553) ; J. Calvin, Harmonia (1553) ; Cluver (1628), Calov (1689), S an dhagen (1684), B unting (1689). Martin Chemnitz's Harmony was first published in 1593, and afterwards with the continuations of Leyser and Gerhard, in 1794. Chemnitz stands at the head of that class of harmonists who maintain that in one or more of the four Gospels chronolo gical order has been neglected ; while Osiander is at the head of those who maintain that all the Gospels are arranged in chronological order. Other harmonies were published by Calixt 0624), Cartwright (1627), Lightfoot (1654), Cradock (166S), Lamy (1689), Le Clerc (1699), Toinard (1797), Burmann (1712), Whiston (1792), Rus (1727-S-30), Bengel (1736), Hauber (1737), Bus ching (1766), Daddridge (1739 and 40), Pilking ton (1747), Macknight (1756), Bertling (1767), Griesbach (1776, 97, 1809, 22), Newcome (1778), Priestley (1777 in Greek, and 17S0 in English), Michaelis 0788, in his Introduction), White (1799), Planck (1809), Keller (1802), Mutschelle (1806), De Wette and Liicke 0818) Hess (1822), Sebas tiani (1806), Matthaei 08'26), Kaiser OSA, Roediger (1S29), Clausen (1829), Greswell (1830), Chapman (1836), Carpenter (1838), Reichel (1S40), Gehringer 842), Robinson (1845 in Greek, English in 1846), Stroud (1S53), Anger (1851), Tisch endorf (1851).
In connection with Greswell's flarmonia Evan g-dica, the same author's Dissertations upon the Prineilles and Arrangement of a Harmony of the Gospels, of which a second edition has been pub lished, deserve notice. These dissertations are exceedingly elaborate, and demand a patient perusal. The learned writer has greatly distin guished himself as the most laborious of modern harmonists. His work is the most copious that has appeared, at least since the days of Chernnitz's folios. Some of his fundamental principles, how ever, are questionable. Rather than admit con siderable diversity in the writers' narrations of the same events or discourses, he has recourse to the expedient of making two out of one, and placing them at different times. On the whole, were we confined to one Harmony of the Gospels, we should prefer that of Robinson to any other. Yet this scholar has strained words and distorted nar ratives for the purpose of forcing a literal agree ment, the result of a narrow theory of inspiration. To adopt any harmony implicitly is more than the enlightened inquirer can do. NVe should there fore recommend a minute examination of the works published by Robinson, Greswell, Stroud, Tisch endorf, and Anger.
The above list contains the best Harmonies and Diatessarons of the Gospels. Some are written in Greek, or Greek and Latin, others in Latin, others in German and Greek, others in English. The entire number of Harmonies is very great. Those who wish to see lists tolerably complete may con sult Fabricii Bibliotheea Grecca,vol. iv., ed. Harles ; Walchii Bibliotheca Theologiea, tom iv. ; Michae lis's Introa'., by Marsh, vol. iii. with the transla. tor's very valuable notes; and' Robinson's Har mony in Greek.-S. D.