This method of comparing the four Evangelists together, is attempted by several divines; and, among them, a late writer, who is deservedly esteemed by all the reformed churches[42], thinks, that the inscription, on the cross of Christ, can hardly be determined, without what is said of it, by all the four Evangelists. Mark says these words were written, _The king of the Jews_, Mark xv. 26. and Luke says, _This is the king of the Jews_, Luke xxiii. 38. and Matthew adds another word, _This is Jesus, the king of the Jews_, Matt. xxvii. 37. and John expresses it thus, _Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews_, John xix. 19. So that, by comparing them all together, and supplying those words from one, which are left out by others of them, we must conclude, that the inscription was, _This is Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews_. Again, as the Acts of the Apostles contains a brief history of the first planting the gospel-church, and of the travels and ministry of the apostle Paul, in particular; this ought to be compared with some things, occasionally mentioned in his epistles, which will give farther light to them. Thus the apostle says, in 1 Cor. xv. 8. _Last of all, he was seen of me also, as one born out of due time_; and speaks of himself in ver. 9. as the _least of the apostles, not meet to be called an apostle; because he persecuted the church of God_. This ought to be compared with Acts ix. 1-6. which gives an account of him as a persecutor before his conversion, and shews how our Saviour was seen of him; which is not to be taken in the same sense as he was seen by the rest of the apostles, before his ascension into heaven; but of his being seen of him, after his ascension, when, on this occasion, he appeared to him. And, if this be compared with 1 Cor. ix. 1. he considers this sight of Jesus as a necessary qualification for the apostleship; therefore, when he speaks of himself as _born out of due time_, he means, called to, and qualified for the apostleship, out of due time; that is, not at the same time in which the other apostles were, but by this extraordinary dispensation of providence. Again, when the apostle, in 1 Thes. ii. 2. speaks of his having been _shamefully entreated at Philippi_. This will be better understood if we compare it with Acts xvi. 16, 21, 22, _& seq._ And when he tells the Thessalonians, in the following words, _that we were bold in our God, to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention_; this should be compared with Acts xvii. 1, _& seq._ Many instances of the like nature might be given, by which, the usefulness of comparing one scripture with another, would farther appear. But, I design this only as a specimen, to assist us in the application of this direction; which a diligent enquirer into the sense of scripture, will be able, in reading it, to make farther improvements upon.