in David and owned of God as the throne of Christ.

The books of _Samuel, Kings_ and _Chronicles_, take up the story of
the kingdom, and the Old Testament leads us on through symbol,
figure and open prophecy, to a Coming Messiah and a glorious kingdom
till, when we reach the last verse in Malachi, we lean across four
centuries of prophetic silence, waiting to greet that promised
Christ who shall be born in Bethlehem; and who is to be called the
Son of the Highest; who is to sit on the throne of his father David,
"to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice,
from henceforth even forever."

We listen for the angelic song and the salutation to men of good
will; and we are expecting, later on, to see Zion's king riding up
the slopes to the Holy City and all the people coming forth to cry,
"Hosanna to the Son of David," and "Blessed be he that cometh in the
name of the Lord."

When you open the New Testament you find four books--Matthew, Mark,
Luke and John.

The order of these books is fixed--it cannot be changed.

If _Mark_ be substituted for _Matthew_, then the New Testament
begins without an account of the birth or genealogy of our Lord
Jesus Christ; no intimation is given that he is born king of the
Jews, and is the expected Messiah.

If _Luke_ be given the place of _Matthew_, little mention will be
found of the Jewish kingdom of heaven; and our Lord will be seen
with a leaning towards the Gentiles.

If the Gospel of _John_ begin the New Testament instead of
_Matthew_, then we shall read of him who is Son of God rather than
King of the Jews, and the expectation raised by Malachi will seem
unfulfilled.

But the moment the order named is followed all is perfect, all is
harmony.

_Matthew_ presents our Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of _Abraham_ and
Son of _David_; heir of the covenant _land_, and the covenant
_throne_, and at once links the New Testament with the Old.

_Mark_ announces that this King of the Jews came into the world to
be the _Servant_ of God and a blessing in his service to men.

_Luke_, although he announces our Lord Jesus Christ as King, sets
him forth pre-eminently as _The Man_, going among men, eating and
drinking with them, and speaking in such plain and simple terms that
the "common people heard him gladly."

In _John_, this Jewish King, this Servant of God and men, this Man
among men, who received sinners and ate with them, is revealed as
the Mighty God, the etern