erat tecum trans Jordanem, cui tu testimonium perhibuisti, ecce hic baptizat, et omnes veniunt ad eum."

27. Respondit Joannes et dixit: "Non potest homo accipere quidquam, nisi fuerit ei datum de cœlo.

28. "Ipsi vos mihi testimonium perhibetis quòd dixerim : Non sum ego Christus, sed quia missus sum ante illum.

29. "Qui habet sponsam sponsus est; amicus autem sponsi, qui stat et audit eum, gaudio gaudet propter vocem sponsi. Hoc ergò gaudium meum impletum est.

30. "Illum oportet crescere, me autem minui.

was with thee beyond the Jordan, to whom thou gavest testimony, behold, he baptizeth, and all men come to him.

27. John answered and said: A man cannot receive anything except it be 'given him from heaven.

28. You yourselves do bear me witness that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.

29. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth with joy because of the bridegroom's voice. This my joy, therefore, is fulfilled. 30. He must increase, but I must decrease.

We have already heard the words of the Baptist reported by S. John. We have one of the finest specimens of humility in the verses before us. John was taken for the Messias, and he refused the title. The man he so extolled was now gathering disciples and baptising in opposition to him. A Jew came to say this and try to sow discord-if not between the two prophets-at least, between their respective followers.

S. John the Baptist rises to the summit of his grandeur in the beautiful words with which he quits the scene of his labours, in going to languish in a prison and be decapitated. "He must increase but I must decrease." I am the last prophet of the Jewish Dispensation, He is the founder of the new. I have pointed Him out. For that was I sent, now you know. Love His voice as I loved it, and he ceased.

'Land of Judea.-They left the city where cabals, plots and dirty work of every description were taking place among the leaders of the Sanhedrim.

2Baptized.—Our Lord Himself did not baptize, but His disciples did so. It is disputed whether this was the Christian Baptism or not. We incline to think it was not, because Christ had not yet died. However, the opposite opinion is well supported.

Near Salim.-This was further up the river than where Our Lord and His disciples began.

Not yet in prison.-This is important to harmonists. Nearly all the synoptics begin Our Lord's public ministry from the imprisonment of S. John.

The Jews.-The best Greek copies have a few. This looks more probable, and John may have used the plural for the singular, as was his

wont.

"Thou gavest testimony.-This looked like trying to cause envy.

"Given him from heaven.-Noble testimony to one considered a rival, or rather a supplantee.

8You yourselves. You heard me and know my opinions.

The friend of the bridegroom.—In Jewish customs, this gentleman had to arrange all the minutiae of the marriage. When it was all over his work was done. A very fitting figure indeed.

10 This my joy therefore is fulfilled.-Our Saviour begins his mission and John begins his joy for martyrdom and heaven.

32. Et quod vidit et audivit, hoc testatur, et testimonium ejus nemo accipit.

33. "Qui accepit ejus testimonium signavit quia DEUS

verax est.

34. "Quem enim misit DEUS, verba DEI loquitur: non enim ad mensuram dat DEUS Spiritum.

35. "Pater diligit Filium, et omnia dedit in manu ejus.

36. "Qui credit in Filium habet vitam æternam; qui autem incredulus est Filio non videbit vitam, sed ira DEI manet super eum.

32. And what he hath 'seen and heard, that he testifieth ; and no man receiveth his testimony.

33. He that hath received his testimony hath attested by "his seal that God is true.

34. For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God doth not give the Spirit by measure.

35. The Father loveth the Son; and he hath given 'all things into his hand.

36. He that believeth in the Son hath life everlasting: but he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

At first sight it would seem as if the Evangelist began to speak his own thoughts here and interpret the Baptist's, but a close inspection will show that he records what the Baptist said.

When the opposition was calmed by his appeal to their remembrance of the words he uttered, when he has convinced them of the end of his mission, he begins to instruct them in the aim of their calling. He promised to show them the way to life everlasting. It is now done. The way, the truth, and the life, is within a few miles of them, down the Jordan, and his work is done.

This Way is not a mere man like John or any of the prophets. He has not received merely a measure of grace and a limited mission. He has unlimited power and is very God Himself. He that believeth in Him hath life everlasting. This is what I have toiled for so long. I go now and hope He will grant me my reward.

1Is above all.-S. John the Baptist declares here the Divinity of Our Lord, before which all rivalry must pale.

Of the earth.-We can but crawl unless God raise us by His gifts or graces.

3From heaven.-This is bringing home to them the fact of the Incarnation.

4 Seen and heard.-This is a pleonasm taken from natural things to show that Our Lord does not speak by mere inspiration, like other prophets and holy men, but by His own knowledge as God.

"His seal. This allusion to the dove at the baptism of Our Lord, and a similar seal to all His works, is very apt and striking.

Spirit by measure.-There is no measure for Our Lord though there may be and is for others.

All things.-This is to illustrate what he said in the last verse. plenitude of the Deity resides in Him really.

The

The wrath of God.-This is put by the Baptist as if it was not wished by Jesus Christ as man, but as being the decision of Divine justice.

CHAPTER IV.

Christ talks with the Samaritan woman. He heals the ruler's son.