is proportionable to the height from which he falls; as hell was firft prepared for the tempter himfelf, because he fell from heaven.

IT is not, therefore, the leaft confpicuous part. of St. John's character, that a fanctity fo extraordinary was not in him accompanied with any degree of pride, a worm which often cankers the faireft fruits that grow in the garden of God. He heard his own praife echoed from every quarter, and "all men," ftruck with admiration at what was about to happen," mufed in their hearts "concerning him, whether he was "the Chrift*." Nay, the Sanhedrim, that they might be refolved in fo important a point, fent a formal

Lukė iii. 15.

depu

deputation of" priefts and Levites

from Jerufalem, to enquire of him, Who art thou*." As the Baptist was, at that time, in high repute among his countrymen, and as fecular defigns are fometimes covered with spiritual pretences, it is not impoffible, but that they might hope to flatter him into an acknowledgment of his being "fome great one,” and to frame of him a Meffiah adapted to their purposes. But John was neither ambitious of an honour which did not belong to him, nor ashamed of a Mafter, who was about to ap<pear in the form of a fervant. He took no glory to himself, but, remit

ted it all where he knew it to be due.

"He confeffed, and denied not, but

*John i. 19, &c.

"confeffed,

"confeffed, I am not the Chrift. "And they asked him, What then? "Art thou Elias," that is, Elijah the Tishbite, whom they expected from heaven!" And he faith, I am not." "Art thou o wgonins, the prophet," meaning probably "Jeremias, or one "of the prophets," whom, as it appears by Matt, xvI. 14. the Jews looked for to arife from the dead. "And he answered, No."

To all these enquiries, made by the priefts and Levites deputed from the Sanhedrim, St. John returned an-fwers which were true, but concife as poffible, that they might take no advantage of his words, being aware that they grew envious of his fame, jealous for their own authority, and fearful of a Meffiah, who would not aufwer

anfwer their hopes, by gratifying their avarice and ambition. "Then "faid they to him, Who art thou, "that we may give an answer to "them that fent us? What fayeft "thou of thy felf? He faid, I am the "voice of one crying in the wilder"nefs, Make straight the way of the "Lord, as faid the prophet Efaias.' This was informing them plainly enough, that the prophecies were foon to be accomplished by the manifeftation of Meffiah; and that repentance, according to his doctrine, and baptifin, was the only preparation fit and neceffary to be made, for the reception of their King.

"THEY who were fent were of the "Pharifees," and confequently could not relish tidings which put an end

to

to all their fchemes of temporal dóminion, and earthly grandeur, inculcating, inftead of them, the duties of mortification and felf-denial. This was not their fyftem; and many, in every age fince, have been of the fame opinion, not caring to receive Chrift, unless he came to them with the world in his hand. Finding, therefore, that John had no vanity to be worked upon, they had recourfe to other meafures, and began to difpute his commiffion to baptize; "They afked him, and faid unto

him, Why baptizeft thou then, if "thou be not that Chrift, nor Elias, "neither that prophet?”

St. John's reply thews his own humility, and, at the fame time, bears teftimony to the dignity of Jefus.