THE BAPTISM OF JOHN.

FEW things in the history of mankind are more simple in their import than the ministry of John the Baptist. How any honest man should be thrown into an unpleasant dilemma by having his opinion asked about John's baptism, it is difficult to see. It is easy, however, to understand the trouble that actually befel the persons to whom our Lord addressed his inquiry. These persons were high in rank, with official responsibilities, having it as part of their duty to watch for the welfare of the people; especially to see that they were not imposed upon by any mere pretender to wisdom and authority. They came into the temple, where Jesus was teaching, to interrogate him as to his commission. By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?'

I dare say, there may have been a well-bred, magisterial insolence in the tone of these ques

tions; yet they were certainly such questions as, if they had been sincere, these men had some title to ask, and such as Jesus would, no doubt, be very ready to answer. Prophets and teachers under the law of Moses were subjected to rigorous tests, and there were heavy penalties for men who deceived the people by setting up false claims.

But honesty is not always with those who appear as guardians of the public morals. An honest man may be called to answer at the bar of an inquisition reckoned very holy, and may choose to answer in such a way as to test and expose the character of his judges.

This, I think, was what Jesus proposed to do. I do not look upon his reply, 'I also will ask you one thing,' as at all an evasion. He stood in the position of a man whose credentials were clear. His prophetic forerunner had borne witness to his person and calling. John's testimony was well known. It was late in the day for men who believed in John to be in doubt about Jesus; while if any did not believe in the man, whom the people generally counted as a prophet, and did not believe in Jesus or in the works of Jesus,

it was a very idle business to be asking him about his commission; since, from their point of view, if he bore witness of himself, his witness was not true. Indeed it is most likely that these watchful patrons of the people were at this moment on the alert to catch Jesus in his words, with the purpose of making him an offender for a word, and so compassing his death. If Jesus had said, what was perfectly true, 'I am the Son of God, and I do these things by authority of God,' they would at once have said what the high priest afterwards did say that he had spoken blasphemy.

Our Lord avoids the trap that was set for him, and brings to light the shallow impertinence and double-dealing of his questioners at the same time, by asking them about the baptism of John.

As if the Lord had said to them: 'We must have some common ground. Somebody or something must be held as true and authoritative. Now, if you know anything, you know John the Baptist; and if you believe in John, you must believe in me; what of the baptism of John? was it from heaven-a genuine and trustworthy thing? or of men—a human pretension with nothing divine about it?'

The simplicity of Christ was more than a match for all the cunning that sought to entangle him in his talk. These prudent priests, these grave elders of the people, knew John only too well. John was too sincere and too much in earnest for them. His stern virtue and prophetic zeal were as the axe lying at the root of their proud and self-indulgent life-tree. It did not show in their favor. At the same time they were forced to respect John, because the people believed in him. The people saw a divine light burning and shining in his ministry, and they counted him for a prophet. Even the chief priests and elders could not afford to outrage this solemn conviction. They feared the people, and confessed it to themselves; for, said they: 'all hold John as a prophet.' They dared not say that his baptism was wholly a human procedure-with no heavenly sanction. But they could not say it was from heaven either, and expose themselves to the fatal question, 'Why did ye not then believe him?' And so they stood self-convicted before the man they had assumed to arraign. As they had not the grace to repent at that late day that they might believe,