firmed to mankind, more fully, the works of Mark and Luke, already sufficiently firm in themselves.1 Matthew wrote especi ally to show the fulfilment of the Old Testament Scriptures, and to convince the Jews. Mark produced an abridgement of Matthew, adding at the same time many remarkable things which had been omitted by his predecessor, and paying particu lar attention to the noviciate of the apostles. Luke composed a narrative of a distinctly historical character, with especial refer ence to our Lord's office as Christ. John refuted the impugners of His divinity. All which is recorded by either of these Four, was actually done and said by Jesus Christ. But they severally drew from a common treasury those particulars, of which each had the fullest knowledge, which corresponded to his own spiritual character, and which were best suited to the time when he wrote, and to the persons whom he primarily addressed. Chrysostom, at the commencement of his second homily on the Epistle to the Romans, says, — Moses has not prefixed his name to the five books which he wrote. Nor have Matthew, John, Luke, nor Mark, to the Gospels written by them. Why so ? Writing, as they did, for those who were present, it ivas not necessary for them to indicate themselves, being also present.
The term GOSPEL has several significations, which, though cognate, are not identical. (1.) The Good JVeivs itself concern ing Jesus Christ, which was communicated by Jesus Christ Himself, His forerunner, His apostles, and other witnesses, first to the Jews, then to the whole human race. (2.) The whole office and system of propagating that Good News, either by preaching or writing : in which sense, for example, we find the expression " my Gospel" sc. that of Paul, in 2 Timothy ii. 8.
1 " Although there is a generally prevalent, but not well enough established opinion, that Matthew wrote in the eighth year after the Ascension, Mark in the tenth, Luke in the fifteenth, and lastly John, in the thirty -third." — Harm., p. 37.
2 Moreover, if you join together the testimonies of John and Matthew, and also those of Mark and Luke, you will have the full range of the whole conversation, acts, and words of Jesus Christ, the beginning, progress, and end, as also all the alternations [vicissitudines], which one may observe, in the disciples, in the people, in His adversaries, and, owing to the different treatment these needed, in the Saviour Himself, if only you pay attention to method. — Harm., pp. 38, 39.