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disciples into the land of Judea; and there he tarried* with them, and baptized."

"Though Jesus himself baptized not, but only his disciples."+

The Baptist John had changed his place to the other side of the river Jordan,‡ and had fixed himself by a stream near to the village of Salim ;

Verses 23, 25, 26. "And John also was baptizing in Enon, near to Salim, because there was much water there ;§ and they came, and were baptized. Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews, about purifying. And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou bearest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him."

The disciples of John felt jealous for their master; they were angry that his words should so soon come true, "He that cometh after me is preferred before me." Let us attend to John's answer, and when we are angry at another being preferred before ourselves let us remember it.

27.

66

John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven."

Let these words hush every murmur. Is another richer, er more thought of than I am? Is he in the place I should like for myself? Am I neglected while he is praised? This would not be, were it not the will of heaven; for "a man can receive nothing, except it be given him from God." All that God does, is well done, and therefore I am in my right place, and those other things, though right for my neighbour to have, † John iv. 2.

Tarried-stayed.

+ Milner.

§ There is still "much water in that place." See Robinson's Biblical Researches, Vol. III. p. 102.

K

would be bad for me to feel sure of this, is to have faith in

God.

John reminded his disciples of all he had said of Jesus, while on the banks of the river Jordan :

Verses 28, 29. "Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. joy therefore is fulfilled."

This my

The Lord Jesus was in his right place, and so was John; and John rejoiced to hear the voice of Jesus, and to witness his glory. He rejoiced to know that people flocked to Jesus; it was in this way that the marriage-feast would be filled up; it was in this way the bride, that is, the Church of Christ, would be given to her Lord. You will find that in many places of Scripture, the Church of Christ is called his bride, and this name is chosen to make us understand how great is his love for his people. For what is the Church of Christ? It is even all those who love his holy name, and whose lives are spent in his service. And so each one of us may be dear to Christ, even as a bride is dear to her husband. O think of this! believe it! rejoice in it! So shall all that you meet with in life be well; and when death comes, it will be but the voice of the bridegroom, who comes to call you home.

John the Baptist went on to tell his disciples that his work was nearly done, while the work of the Saviour was only beginning:

He

30-33. "He must increase, but I must decrease. that cometh from above is above all he that is of the

The whole of Solomon's Song. Isa. liv. 5; lxiv. 1-6. Hosea ii. 19, 20. Matt. xxii. 2. 2 Cor. xi. 2. Eph. v. 23-27. Rev. xix. 7-9; xxi. 9, 10

earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth (or declares); and no man receiveth his testimony. He that receiveth his testimony

hath set to his seal that God is true."

The Baptist John here distinctly shews the difference between himself and the Lord Jesus. He was but a man, and though taught of God, spoke as a man. Jesus was the Lord from heaven, and being God, though in the form of man, spoke as God. Few would believe the wondrous truths He brought from heaven, but those who did believe were witnesses for God, and "set to their seals that God is true;" even as a man who is called upon to witness that a paper which was written by another man, was really written by him, sets his seal and writes his name upon that paper to show that it is truth.

Verses 34-36. "He whom God hath sent (said John) speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life: but the wrath of God abideth on him."

The Spirit of God was given by measure to John himself, and to each of the Prophets. It is given so to all who seek it; to some more, to some less-but to all enough for their appointed work. It is not so with Christ the Lord; in him the Spirit dwelleth bodily, and "all things are given into his hand." Therefore John warns his disciples to have no jealousy of the disciples of Jesus, but to hasten to become his disciples themselves; for in no other way could they have everlasting life. John spoke to them-his words still speak to us to each one of us he still 'says, "He that believeth on the Son hath

everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son, shall not sce life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

Two thousand years have nearly passed away since these words were first spoken; perhaps the world is nearly coming to an end, and yet there is no other way to be saved. Let me set to my seal that "God is true; "let me receive his Son to be my Saviour, my only hope; that I may have power to become the child of God.*

Prayer.

given me

"Lord! I believe, help thou mine unbelief." Let my whole life be a witness that I believe thee true. Make me to be indeed one of thy Church, that I may be dear to thee even as thy bride. Oh! I am most unworthy of thy love, but thou canst make me such as thou wouldst have me; thou canst give me of thy Spirit that I may have power to become thy child. "All things are given into thy hand," and "whosoever believeth on thee hath everlasting life." Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief." Amen.

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JOHN iv. 1--3.

XXXI.

"When therefore the Lord Jesus knew how the Pharisees had heard that he made and baptized more disciples than John, (though Jesus himself baptized not, but (only) his disciples,) he left Jordan, and departed again into Galilee."

Much took place on his journey there; but in the meantime let us hear what happened to John the Baptist, whose ministry was nearly ended.

The village of Salim, near which he had fixed himself, was

* John i. 12.

in a part of the country which was ruled over by Herod Antipas, a son of the cruel king Herod-miscalled the Great-who had caused all the infants in Bethlehem to be killed, in the hope of killing Christ. The son, like the father, was a wicked man, following his own will in every thing; and he had taken his brother Philip's wife to be his wife. John the Baptist knew no difference between the sins of a king and the sins of a common man, and he boldly declared this unholy marriage to be unlawful. Herod, enraged at this reproof," sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake,† his brother Philip's wife:" for he had married her; for John had said unto Herod, "It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife." Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not, for "Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and a holy, and observed him, and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly." +

How terrible the power of sin is, when once we have yielded to it, when we have allowed it to get the upper hand in spite of our conscience telling us that we are doing wrong. Herod had a wife already; he was a Jew, and he knew the law of God, which said it was unlawful to take another man's wife during the life of her husband, and that Herodias being his brother's wife, made the crime worse. He knew all this, yet he did it, and persisted in doing it. He knew that John spoke the truth when he upbraided him for his sin, and he feared to allow him openly to declare that his marriage was unlawful; for John's || power over the people was great; so he shut him up in prison. Herodias would have done more; she would have killed him if she could, but Herod feared John. Yes, the

* This cruel Herod, who was called the Great, was the last real king of Judea. His dominions were divided among the sons who were left alive after his death. They were called Tetrarchs or Governors, though the title of king was often given them in speaking of them. † Mark vi. 17. || Josephus.

Mark vi. 20.

§ Lev. xx. 21.

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