and he had to depart then into far distant lands
to heathen nations, to teach them.
Then he desired first of all to write the Gospel
for his own people, before he departed from them.
The second Evangelist is Mark, who was by the Apostle Peter
educated in doctrine, and converted to the faith.
Peter was his godfather, and begat him to God,
and he so long followed his baptismal father Peter,
until he had written, with true faith,
the second book of Christ, in the land of Italy.
He never saw Christ in life, but he learned, nevertheless,
from Peter's preaching, how he should write the book,
and Peter examined it, and delivered it to be read.
The third Evangelist is Luke, who was a physician in the world,
and dwelt with the apostles, and with Paul afterward,
serving the Almighty without any sin
in a pure life, ever without a wife, filled with God's Spirit,
and he wrote and wisely arranged the Gospel,
and he also wrote the Acts of the Apostles.
He wrote his Gospel in the land of Achaia,
and departed to God, filled with the Holy Ghost,
when he was four and eighty years of age.
The fourth Evangelist is John, Christ's aunt's son;
he was so dear to Christ that he leaned upon His breast
in which was hidden the heavenly wisdom,
as if he thence might drink the deep learning
which he afterward wrote in wonderfuller writings,
so that he surpassed all creatures,
and declared the words which angels durst not.
