alone in being that one among Christ's saints whose entire career, from the prophecy of his birth down to that personal renown which outlived his brief mortal life, is recorded in the Gospel in this, as in much besides, was he made like unto the Greater than he. The same Archangel announced the birth of both; in celebration of those births, the same two righteous persons being filled with the Holy Ghost in outbursts of thanksgiving spake of both. When the Word should preach, the solitary Voice first cried out when the King would come unto His own, the one Messenger made ready His way before Him: or ever the Sun of Righteousness arose, a better son of the morning, Lucifer, light-bearer, dawned not to fall but to shine on for ever and ever: or ever the Uncreated Light sprang up, a Lamp was kindled. Alone of all mankind, so far as we read, the Baptist laid down life for the Truth while yet the Truth spake on earth. In his youth secluded in the deserts, in his maturity secluded in Herod's prison, he yet through the burden and heat of his intermediate day stood, in one sense, then most utterly aloof and alone, when he was sent to point out Christ to others, not himself on fleshly feet to follow Him. As once his Lord spake, saying, "This Voice came not because of Me, but for your sakes," so was the blessed Baptist made like unto a voice uttered not for his own sake but for that of others. While he baptized unto repentance the Heaven rejoiced, for there is joy in the presence of the Angels of God over one sinner that repenteth; while he pointed out Christ the earth was glad, for this is He that taketh away the sin of the world: nevertheless he himself rejoiced not nor was glad save as a penitent heading penitents, as a sinner awaiting cleansing, as a friend standing only without and listening to the Bridegroom's voice. Yet this is he whom the Lord praised (reverently be it spoken) with what seems a burst of human admiration as well as of divine approval: with such words of emphatic praise as those all-true Lips while they spake on earth are recorded but few times indeed to have uttered concerning any living person. With them perhaps we may parallel : "Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" "I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel": "O woman, great is thy faith": "Blessed art thou, SimonBar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father." To which let us add three sen tences of most precious tenderness: "She loved much": "One thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part": "She hath done what she could." "The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord."-Isaiah xl. 3. This mighty Prophet of whom the elder prophets prophesied, this Voice predicted of old time, this Forerunner who prepared the way of the Lord, this Mouthpiece of mankind which hailed the Lamb of God, in what wilderness spake he, to what nation, with what breath? The Wilderness of Judæa was trodden by his fleshly feet, the Children of Israel heard his message, the breath of mortal man was in his nostrils: nevertheless, was this the end? Awe-struck, wondering, athirst for knowledge while fearful of exceeding the limits of our revelation, the eyes of our heart yet turn towards that wilderness of all wildernesses, "the pit wherein is no water;" there we discern a con gregation of Israelites indeed, even the King's own prisoners; and there (it may be: God knoweth) we hear with spiritual ears the disembodied Voice proclaim to disembodied worthies whose redemption is well-nigh wrought: "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." For as St. John Baptist's birth preceded by a brief space the Birth of our Lord, so by a like brief space did his death precede Christ's atoning Death and he who on earth had pointed out the only Saviour, may in that other long-expectant world have proclaimed the fast-fulfilling fulness of time, "Turn you to the Strong Hold, ye prisoners of hope." And further. If we think it not profitless to meditate on a belief held by many persons, that when our Divine Redeemer ascended up to His Glory He went not (as once) alone, but travelling in the greatness of His strength was girt by the spiritual princes and peers of His ancient Israel, then the Triumph which eye hath not seen arises before our mental vision; and as it soars up the heights of Zion, even though all is occult, impenetrable, unutterable, we yet hear once more a Voice (and know not whether it is still that same forerunning Voice),—we hear a Voice as of a trumpet summoning the Heavenly Gates:"Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in." "Who is this King of Glory?" "The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in." "Who is this King of Glory?" "The Lord of hosts, He is the King of Glory."-Psalm xxiv. 7-10. Truly we possess no measure wherewith to mete the gifts of God to His saints; nor doth any but the Omniscient grasp the fulness of that blessed word, "their works do follow them." And yet once again we read in unfulfilled parable :"And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him."-St.Matt.xxv. 6. A Prayer for Conformity to God's Will. GOD, Whose Presence is the Holy of Holies: by Whose Will, at Whose Word, made like unto the trump of the Archangel, the Voice sounded; denouncing sinners, preaching repentance and righteousness, proclaiming the Kingdom of Heaven already at men's doors, proclaiming the King standing in their midst, and the axe laid unto the root of the trees; Thine be the glory, O our God, as Thine are the gifts of this Thy Saint: for by the fiat of Thy Will St. John Baptist, prophesied of from old time, was born beyond the probability of nature, grew up in holy seclusion, lived in austere penitence, directed others to Christ, yet himself abode far off in patient obedience: Grant us, we pray Thee, after his pattern to obey Thy commandment whereunto soever Thou mayest call us; to accept what Thou bestowest, to forego what thou deniest and thus labouring and enduring unto the end, after the weariness and painfulness of this mortal life are fulfilled, to go home as the Baptist hath gone home from promise to possession, from : longing to love, from sympathy of friendship to intimacy of union, from interval of space to oneness with Jesus. Even so on our better birthday, from prison and bondage of corruption set us also free, for Thine only Son's sake, the same our Lord Jesus. Amen. A Memorial of St. John Baptist. The prayer of Zacharias rejoicing, he embraces a son. I have gotten a man from the Lord.-Genesis iv. 1. "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel:"_ I am well pleased: that the Lord hath heard the voice of my prayer; That He hath inclined His ear unto me therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live. The voice of joy and health is in the dwellings of the righteous: the right hand of the Lord bringeth mighty things to pass.— O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is gracious: Blessed be Thy glorious and His mercy endureth for "He hath visited and re deemed His people :"God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. -St. John iii. 17. The right hand of the Lord hath the pre-eminence : the right hand of the Lord bringeth mighty things to pass. |