Evangelion (that we call the gospell) is a Greek word; and signifieth
good, merry, glad and joyful tidings, that maketh a man's heart glad,
and maketh him sing, dance, and leap for joy. As when David had killed
Goliah the giant, came glad tidings unto the jewes, that their fearful
and cruel enemy was slain, and they delivered out of all danger: for
gladness whereof, they sung, danced, and were joyful. In like manner is
the Evangelion of God (which we call Gospel; and the New Testament)
joyful tidings; and as some say, a good hearing published by the
apostles throughout all the world, of Christ the right David how that
he hath fought with sin, with death, and the devil, and overcome them.
Whereby all men that were in bondage to sin, wounded with death,
overcome of the devil, are with out their own merits or deservings,
loosed, justified, restored to life, and saved, brought to liberty, and
reconciled unto the favour of God, and set at one with him again: which
tidings as many as believe, laud praise and thank God; are glad, sing
and dance for joy.
((with evangelion is called a testament))
This evangelion or gospell (that is to say, such joyful tidings) is
called the new testament. Because that as a man when he shall die
appointeth his goods to be dealt and distributed after his death among
them which he nameth to be his heirs. Even so Christ before his death
commanded and appointed that such evangelion, gospell, or tidings
should be declared through out all the world, and there with to give
unto all that believe all his goods, that is to say, his life, where
with he swallowed and devoured up death: his righteousness, where with
he banished sin: his salvation, where with he overcame eternal
damnation. Now can the wretched man (that is wrapped in sin, and is in
danger to death and hell) hear no more joyous a thing, then such glad
and comfortable tidings, of Christ. So that he cannot but be glad and
laugh from the low bottom of his heart, if he believe that the tidings
are true.
To strength such faith with all, God promised this his evaglion in the
old testament by the prophets (as Paul sayth in the first chapter unto
the romans). How that he was chosen out to preach God's evangelion,
which he before had promised by the prophets in the holy scriptures
that treat of his son which was born of the seed of David. In the third
chapter of Genesis, God saith to the serpent: I will put hatred between
thee and the woman, between thy seed and her seed, that self seed shall
tread thy head under foot. Christ is this woman's seed, he it is that
hath trodden under foot the devil's seed, that is to say sin, death,
hell, and all his power. For with out this seed can no man avoid sin,
death, hell and everlasting damnation.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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