For God so loved the world,

That he gave his only begotten Son,

That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish,
But have everlasting life.

For God sent not his Son into the world

to condemn the world;

But that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned, But he that believeth not is condemned already, Because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judæa; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.

And John also was baptizing in Ænon near to Salim, because there was much water there and they came, and were baptized. For John was not yet cast into prison.

Then there arose a question, between some of John's disciples and the Jews, about purifying. And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said,

FINAL TESTIMONY OF JOHN BAPTIST TO CHRIST. 31

I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.

For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: For God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. 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 the Son

shall not see life;

But the wrath of God abideth on him.

But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her. For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife. Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not: For Herod feared John, (knowing that he was a just man and a holy,) and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. And when he would have put him to death, he

feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

THANKSGIVING.

O be joyful in the Lord, all ye lands: serve the Lord with gladness, and come before his presence with a song!

Almighty God, by whose providence thy servant John the Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to prepare the way of thy Son our Saviour by preaching of repentance; make us so to follow his doctrine and holy life, that we may truly repent according to his preaching; and after his example, constantly speak the truth, boldly rebuke vice, and patiently suffer for the truth's sake, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Questions on Section III.

Prove that Jesus was God manifest in the flesh, from what is said of Him as THE WORD of God.

What was the record of John Baptist respecting Christ? What was it that convinced John the Baptist that Jesus was the Son of God.

Where and when did Jesus perform his first miracle? What prophecy of his own resurrection did Jesus make when the Jews demanded of him a sign?

What took place at the interview between our Lord and Nicodemus, when the latter came to Jesus by night? What was John's last testimony to Christ?

Why did Herod imprison John?

THE LIFE OF CHRIST.

33

SECTION IV.

From the first preaching of Jesus, to his healing the Leper.

PRAYER.

Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life (in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility;) that in the last day, when he shall come again, in his glorious Majesty, to judge both the quick and dead, we may rise to the life immortal, through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever

Amen.

Now when Jesus heard that John was cast into prison, he departed. And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, preaching the Gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand repent ye, and believe the Gospel.* And there went out a fame of him through all the region round about: and he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.

And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the

* Christ did not begin to preach till after the imprisonment of John; and it is worthy of remark, that our blessed Lord begins his ministry with the same words as his appointed forerunner (whose divine commission he thereby established,) calling on all men to repent, and to believe the gospel of salvation.

D

borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim,
By the way of the sea, beyond Jordan,

Galilee of the Gentiles;

The people which sat in darkness saw great light;
And to them which sat

in the region and shadow of death,

Light is sprung up.

From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say,

Repent; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, (though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) he left Judæa, and departed again into Galilee. And he must needs go through Samaria. Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that Thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and Who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to