misunderstood and frequently misapplied, the
idea seems to be that "Gospel religion," "Gospel sermons" and
"preaching the Gospel," mean certain doctrines such as individual
election, calling, justification, sanctification and the like.
These are regarded as being very Scriptural, and in accordance with
the Scriptural method. When, however, we turn to the Scriptures we
find that such doctrines are not "the Gospel" at all, but simply
deductions from it. In the New Testament the word "Gospel" is applied
_exclusively_ to the announcement of certain events, certain outward
facts connected with the Second Person in the Blessed Trinity,
namely, the Incarnation, Birth, Life, Death, Burial, Resurrection
and Ascension of the Son of God. Such was the "good tidings"
announced by the angelic choir, such is the purpose of the New
Testament Scriptures, and that Gospel religion or Gospel preaching
which brings these sublime facts to bear on the hearts and lives
of men, as living realities and guiding motives, alone can be
Scriptural and truly Gospel. This being the case, we can understand
how the Church's Year with its changing seasons of joy and penitence,
setting forth so clearly all these facts in our Lord's Life,
preaches the very Gospel of Christ and in accordance with the
Scriptural method. (See CHRISTIAN YEAR.)

Gospels, The.--The four canonical records of the {127} Life of our
Lord written by St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke and St. John. The
first three are called the "Synoptic Gospels," because they all look
at the events they describe from the same point of view; while the
standpoint of St. John is quite different. His purpose was not to
give the history of our Lord as did the other Evangelists, but to
teach the mysteries arising out of that history. For example, St.
John says nothing about the circumstances of our Lord's Birth, but
he sets forth the _mystery_ which those circumstances embraced,--the
Incarnation of the Word, or eternal Son of God. For this reason,
the Fourth Gospel is called by ancient writers a "Spiritual Gospel,"
because it contains less of historical narrative than the others
and more of Doctrine.

Gospel, The Holy.--The title given to the passage from the Gospels
read at Holy Communion, commonly called "the Gospel for the Day."
During the reading of the Holy Gospel the people are to stand as
required by the rubric. This custom is intended to show a reverent
regard to the Son of God above all other mess