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and comest thou to me?" Jesus answering said unto him, "Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness." On this occasion, the Baptist preserved the consistency of his character, and shewed his reverence and humility, by instant submission, and obedience.

I. Combining the narrative of the holy evange lists, we find that, on Jesus coming out of the water, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon him and lo, a voice from heaven saying, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." John, having wit nessed this miraculous interposition of divine power, exclaimed," Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the word." The holy Baptist had been exhorting men to repentance; but repentance would have been of little avail, unless the means of pardon and reconciliation for past omissions and transgressions had been pointed out. Accordingly, the great doctrines of the Gospel,-the mediation and atonement of Christ, were now first proclaimed by John; who, on a subsequent occasion, bore this further testimony to the Messiah's character and office. "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 on the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."

Here, the ministry of the holy Baptist, properly speaking, may be said to have ceased; and now all eyes were directed to the Saviour of the world. John's joy was fulfilled, in having heard the bridegroom's voice, of whom he meekly and truly said, "He must increase, but I must decrease." Accordingly, John may be said to have been the morning-star, which ushered in the sun of righteousness, whose brightness soon. eclipsed his own, and therefore he disappeared.

But there are a few more circumstances of this extraordinary man, recorded by the holy evangelists, which deserve our attention. The testimony of our blessed Lord himself respecting his faithful harbinger claims particular notice. Addressing himself to the multitudes concerning John, he said, "What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind ?" Here the Saviour characterises the holy Baptist by contraries; for, instead of bearing any resemblance to this striking emblem of change, wavering weakness, and inconstancy, nothing could exceed his stedfastness of pur

pose, the frank, but humble acknowledgment of his subordinate pretensions, his determinate pursuit of duty, and the manly consistency of his conduct. Pursuing his inquiry in the same style, our blessed Lord asked, "But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they that wear soft clothing are in king's houses." Here, perhaps, an allusion was intended to the silken robes, the gorgeous apparel, and other luxuries, that were displayed in the palace of Herod. But, with respect to John, the people could not but feel the striking contrast, when they adverted to the raiment of sackcloth, the leathern girdle, and the very homely fare, which the wilderness afforded.

We now come to the last serious, and important question, "But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you and more than a prophet." And, after confirming the authenticity of his mission as the Messenger foretold by the prophets, our heavenly Redeemer adds this remarkable attestation to the Baptist's character and office. Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women, there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist; notwithstanding, he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."

of Here, we may observe, in the first place, that John was "more than a prophet," because he beheld, with his own eyes, what the prophet only sées, in the vision of the mind, through the mist of ages darkly, and, for the most part, indi stinctly. He had the distinguished honor of baptising the heavenly Messiah, on the com mencement of his divine ministry, and of announcing his mediatorial character to the asto nished multitude, as" the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the world." We may reasonably infer, also, from the testimony of our blessed Lord, that the virtues of John, his sanctity, his holiness, his seclusion from the world, and his devotedness to the great object of his mission, were never surpassed" among them that are born of women." But it is added, "He that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." The comparison, which is here instituted between John, and those who are said to be "in the kingdom of heaven," (meaning by this expression, the Gospel dispensation, or the kingdom of Christ on earth) probably has reference to the twelve disciples, who were afterwards called apostles. These, we know, were chosen from the world "to bear witness to the truth;" and, after the death of their heavenly

Lord, to preach the glad tidings of salvation to all nations. Now, these were not greater than John in the rigorous observance of duty, in the purity of their morals, or in the holiness of their lives; but they were greater in power; and unspeakably superior to him in the many spiritual blessings, and privileges, which they enjoyed. They were baptised by the Saviour himself with the Holy Ghost, and with fire. To the miraculous power of healing diseases, was added the gift of speaking with divers tongues. Besides, they experienced the great joy, and incalculable benefits, of associating constantly with the Son of God. They heard his preaching in public, and saw his miracles of love-they listened to his admonitions in private, and had the rare advantage of contemplating, from day to day, the only perfect model of glorified humanity, that was ever exhibited for the instruction, and redemption, of a sinful world. Add to this, after having partaken of the holy Sacrament, which he instituted, in remembrance of his death and passion, they witnessed the great propitiatory sacrifice for sin, that was made on the cross ;they beheld his resurrection from the dead, and his ascension into heaven.

When we consider these things, we may fully