PREFACE
The first edition of this "Life of Christ". then purely Vernacular, was published in 1849
at Tellicherry by the Rev. Dr. H. Gundert, late of the Malabar Mission. After having been
out of print for nearly twenty years, the generosity of two esteemed friends for whose liberal
contributions towards the cost of printing we express our heart-felt gratitude, has at length
enabled us to let the work re-appear in its present enlarged shape.
A few words of explanation may be required as regards the novelty of introducing to such a
large extent the English element into a Vernacular publication. The object of inserting the
Gospel Text was to facilitate an attentive reading and understanding of the Gospel Narrative.
Though the respective passages be continually pointed out, the fact remains, that the majority
of readers shun the trouble of keeping a separate copy of the N. T. open for reference. This
evil, It was thought, would be best remedied by having the test running along each section of
the Gospel History. Moreover, we have adopted the English Version, partly because it requires
much less space than the Malayalam, while the variety produced by the alternate succession of
both types will secure greater lucidity to the whole arrangement of the volume, partly because among
the educated Malayalees of our days the desire after instruction in English has become so pro-
minent, that a book interspersed with English seems to have far more attraction for them than a
mere Vernacular publication. Hence we trust, that, enriched by the English Gospel Text, by a
more detailed Index, and a minute Synopsis of the Gospel Harmony (pp. 22-35) as well as by
a map of Palestine, the present edition has been rendered still more practical and useful, and
that it may be found acceptable as a guide to the highest of all human objects of investigation,
the Life of Christ.
For the Harmony itself, somewhat altered in this second edition, the revisor, not the Author,
should be held responsible. As to the rather lengthy "Introduction" to this Harmony, we beg
to offer the following remark. It seemed not advisable, in arranging the materials of the Gospel
Narrative simply to fix upon a certain order of the succession without adding the necessary explana-
tions why such and such a place had to be assigned to such and such an incident or series of in-
cidents. This duty once recognized, we had only the alternative left between scattering such
information all through the book in a host of foot-notes, and giving a systematic statement of
our scheme. While adopting the latter course, we are perfectly aware that but a small propor-
tion of our readers will be able to follow us in this exposition. Nor was it ever intended for
any but such as take a lively interest in questions referring to Gospel Harmony, and if but some
service should have been rendered to these few, capable of appreciating the treatise, we shall
feel amply rewarded for the time and labour bestowed thereupon.
A*
