fore-runner; applying to himself the same appellations, and using the same phraseology that the Baptist had used, relative to the nature of His baptism, the descent of the Holy Ghost, the impending ruin of the Jewish state, and his final coming to judgment; -as if desirous thus to point out the perfect harmony and coincidence between his own doctrine and that which had been taught them by his venerable Precursor.

But pre-eminently as the Baptist was thus distinguished above all others who had preceded him, his whole demeanour was marked by the lowliest reverence towards that MIGHTIER ONE whom he came to announce. On our Lord's approach to receive baptism at his hands, John (probably warned by an immediate revelation that this was the promised Messiah) shrunk from performing the office, until re-assured by Christ himself. though his preaching excited extraordinary admiration, insomuch that "all men mused "in their hearts, whether he was the Christ"," yet his only solicitude was to bring men to HIM who was indeed the CHRIST. He took

And

no glory to himself. "He confessed, and "denied not; but confessed, I am not the "Christ"." Unlike a deceiver or an enthu

* Luke iii. 15.

VOL. II.

D

y John i. 20.

siast, he sought not his own fame or interest; but devoted all his labours to making proselytes to Christ himself. His sole object was "to bear witness of the Light, that all men "through him might believe"."

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The only passage in the history of this extraordinary person which seems to militate against these representations of him, is the message which he sent, whilst in prison, to Jesus, "Art thou He that should come, or do we look for another?" It has been conjectured, that John, thus persecuted by Herod, and seeing no prospect of deliverance from imprisonment, began either to entertain doubts respecting our Saviour, or to feel dissatisfaction from being thus left to suffer in the cause of righteousness. But neither of these suppositions appears well to consist with the previous history. For in addition to the miraculous testimony which John had received from heaven of our Lord's divine character and office, it is stated that he had heard, while he was in prison, of "the works "of Jesus;" nor is it to be doubted that, before then, he had continually heard, if he had not even been an eyewitness, of his miracles. Nay, he had said himself of Christ, "He must increase, but I must decrease;" a Matth. xi. 3. b John iii. 30.

z John i. 7.

plainly forewarning his followers of the decline of his own reputation and authority, in proportion as our Lord advanced in public notice and general estimation. It has, therefore, been generally thought more probable, that the intent of the message was rather to satisfy his disciples than himself; that they who delivered it might see and hear, and be convinced that He was the person that should come, and that they were not to look for another. Accordingly, our Lord wrought several miracles on the spot, for their conviction; and having done so, he dismissed them with a warning of the danger of being "of"fended in Him;" a caution probably necessary, from their having entertained some unworthy mistrust or jealousy, on account of his seeming neglect of their suffering master. No sooner, indeed, had they departed, than Jesus, as if to remove any unfavourable impression among the multitude concerning John, began to say unto them, "What went

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ye out into the wilderness to see? a reed "shaken with the wind?"-a person wavering and irresolute in his conduct?" But "what went ye out for to see? a man cloth"ed in soft raiment ?"-a man feeble-minded or self-indulgent, who would shrink from suffering and persecution?" But what went ye

"out for to see? a prophet? Yea, I say unto 66 you, and more than a prophet. And verily "I say unto you, Among them that are born "of women there hath not risen a greater "than John the Baptist." Thus did our Lord embrace the opportunity of correcting any prejudice or misconception concerning him, which this occurrence might have created; and thus did the message itself, sent by the Baptist while imprisoned and debarred of any public exercise of his ministry, give occasion to spread the knowledge of his Lord's wonderful works, and to add converts to the truth; that truth for the reception of which it had been the labour of his own life to prepare mankind. If, however, that exposition be adopted, which ascribes the message to certain misgivings or misapprehensions on the part of the Baptist himself, we can only regard it as a proof (if proof were needful) that even this distinguished servant and messenger of the Most High was not exempt from human infirmity; but was for an instant overcome, either by the pressure of severe adversity, or by the surmises and suggestions of those who still adhered to him, and who probably might be urgent that he should afford both them and himself such an

c Matth. xi. 11.

opportunity of removing their own doubts and fears. On that supposition, our Lord's instant performance of sundry miracles, and his prompt and immediate testimony to the character of John, may be regarded as a striking instance of his sympathy with the sufferings of his illustrious coadjutor; his considerate tenderness towards both him and his disciples, who erred not from any "evil heart "of unbelief;" and his solicitude that not even a momentary impression should be left on the minds of his hearers, to the disparagement of one who had so faithfully discharged the high commission intrusted to him, and who was now on the point of suffering death for his inflexible adherence to the cause of righteousness and truth.

Thus did that "burning and shining light"," as he was emphatically called by our Blessed Saviour, bear witness to the truth of our holy religion by his preaching and his conduct, by his doctrine and precepts, as well as by the extraordinary purpose of his ministry, and the divine commission with which he was intrusted. In contemplating these, our faith cannot but be strengthened in that Saviour whom he announced to mankind, and our conceptions enlarged of that stupendous wis

d John v. 35.