The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1905-01-05
The Witness OF John The Baptist


The current average notion of the
forerunner, as, indeed, of the other
prophets, is probably too mechanical;
to-wit. that at an exact period and
fixed place he appeared, and having
spoken certain prescribed words.
moved off the stage again. That re-
duces to an automaton one of the
freest beings who ever drew breath,
and to piece of acting one OF the
most genuine and fateful contests of
history. John was intensely human.
He had ike passions with others.
The glory of it is that with these he
yet acted divinely in a great ma
tional crisis. And that not because
irresistibly impelled by a power ex-
ternal to himself. His ascetic life was
& rational protest to the voluptuous-
ness of his age. His solitariness re-
buked the self-interested combina-
tions in Church and State. He sought
the desert that he might think to a
finish a patriotic course of conduct,
and might fortify his soul with
those matured convictions of truth
which VIC uld inure him even to mar
trydom. When at length he felt that
he was ready to speak and some at
least ready to hear him, he went to
Ghe place where the most people
would naturally congregate.
He was granted an immediate and
astonishingly large auditory. 1t had
been five hundred years since a proph-
cts voice had fallen upon Israels ear
and the reading of the ancient prOph-
cts in the synagogue was perfunctory.
1t was uninterrupted by sympathetic
accent, and so was spiritless and with
out effect. The conjunction Of man
and message in John was recognized
instantly. In this sense he was a
imam come from God" The Jews,
with their social instincts hated the
desert, but they recognized it as the
birthplace of their deliverers. And
John had come from the desert. That
predisposed them in his favor. Again
he was of priestly parentage, but OF
parentage untainted with the vices
incident to the hierarchy. Finally
matters had come to such a pass
through the naughty intolerance of
the Roman governors and the low and
cunning fawning of puppet priests
that revolution was in the air To
some it seemed that darkest hour,
which presages down. However, the
Baptist avoided allpoljtical entangle-
ments. He affiliated with no party.
He was found to be solely preacher
of righteousness. He sought the re-
generation of his nation. He made
himself father confessor He called
for words of repentance and deeds to
match them. He made the Jews them
selves submit to the sign which they
enforced upon heather proselytes to
Judaism. He baptized them.
The ecclesiastical rulers at Jerusa-
lem could no longer maintain their
complacency. They could not ignore
the incident. All Jerusalem and Ju-
dea, and later Perea, Samaria, and
Galilee We're going out to Johns
preaching and baptism. Who could
tell what the end would be? The San
hedrin suddenly asserts itself. 1t sits
in Moses seat to determine who are
true and who false teachers. No one
can teach without its authority.
John is already in their view an usur-
per. AT least they will now test his
doctrine and demand his credentials.
This is the meaning and intent of the
sending of the delegation.
1t is psychological moment. HUI
manly speaking it is Johns opportun-
ity. He already has vast and ever
increasing clientele. He has the sense
of power. The acute condition of the
national life would seem to justify an
assertion of himself. If not tempted
at this moment, he was more than
human. On the dark background OF
that thought the whiteness of his
pure soul stands in clear-cut outline.
He brushes aside scepter and dia-
dem. He will serve God and man I'M
selfishly. He is not the Messiah. not
Elijah, no not even prophet. He is
only herald's voice, announcing the
Kings approach, and demanding
that a highway be built for Him.
When challenged concerning his bap-
tism, he sets no meritorious sacra-
mental value upon it. The fluid ele-
ment of nature is paltry thing COM
pared with the Holy Ghost Water
is mere sign. Spirit is the energiz-
ing life of.God. The forerunner bap-
tizes with water. The Messiah with
Spirit.
This unfayorable reception Of
Johns testimony, this querulous and
rasping catichism of the great preach
es in the presence of his audience, by
the highest authority of the Church,