(iv.) Then further, S. Mark is observed to introduce many expressions into his Gospel which confirm the prevalent tradition that it was _at Rome_ he wrote it; and that it was with an immediate view to _Latin_ readers that it was published. Twelve such expressions were enumerated above (at p. 150-1); and such, it was also there shewn, most unmistakably is the phrase πρώτη σαββάτου in ver. 9.—It is simply incredible that any one but an Evangelist writing under the peculiar conditions traditionally assigned to S. Mark, would have hit upon such an expression as this,—the strict equivalent, to Latin ears, for ἡ μία σαββάτων, which has occurred just above, in ver. 2. Now this, it will be remembered, is one of the hacknied objections to the genuineness of this entire portion of the Gospel;—quite proof enough, if proof were needed, of the exceeding _improbability_ which attaches to the phrase, in the judgment of those who have considered this question the most. (v.) The last peculiarity of S. Mark to which I propose to invite attention is supplied by those expressions which connect his Gospel with S. Peter, and remind us of the constant traditional belief of the ancient Church that S. Mark was the companion of the chief of the Apostles. That the second Gospel contains many such hints has often been pointed out; never more interestingly or more convincingly than by Townson(307) in a work which deserves to be in the hands of every student of Sacred Science. Instead of reproducing any of the familiar cases in order to illustrate my meaning, I will mention one which has perhaps never been mentioned in this connexion before. (_a_) Reference is made to our LORD’S sayings in S. Mark vii, and specially to what is found in ver. 19. _That_ expression, “purging all meats” (καθαρίζων(308) πάντα τὰ βρώματα), does really seem to be no part of the Divine discourse; but the Evangelist’s inspired comment on the SAVIOUR’S words.(309) Our SAVIOUR (he explains) by that discourse of His—ipso, facto—“_made all meats clean_.” How doubly striking a statement, when it is remembered that probably Simon Peter himself was the actual author of it;—the same who, on the house-top at Joppa, had been shewn in a vision that “GOD _had made clean_” (ὁ Θεὸς ἐκαθάρισε(310)) _all_ His creatures!