Newark post., 1910-05-18
THE LESSON.

ttl'dS, d SN'il vi IINloh LIN vi Nol
and ruler of one OF the provinces
into which Palestine was divided
after the great kings death.
"Tetrarch means really COVER
nor of fourth part" He was a
wicked man. Hebrew in origin,
Roman by education and ahilia-
ton, he had all the vices and al
most none of the virtues of the
two nations combined i'll his per-
sonality. To the ears of this man
came the fame of Jesus.
vs.. 2. The verse shows how
conscience and superstition were
combined in this man. The re-
ports about Jesus troubled him.
1T is John he said. That was
conscience. 'tIe is risen from the
dead" he continud. That was
superstition Guilty fear filled him.
This is the first hint that Iohn was
dead How came he to die: The
remaining verses tell the story.
VS.. 3. Arrest, chains, prison for
good man for the sake OF a
wicked. shameless woman HerOd-
las was the wife of Herod Philip.
kThe two Antipas and Herodias
were living in adultery. All the
world knew it. and John the Bap-
tist dared to- tell the king so.
]Icrod loved the sensational. Ohm
bad interested him He sent for
ohm to preach. He wanted a
new sensation. John furnished it.
Us. !. He was not afraid of the
king. Stern and uncompromising,
he told the king the truth and the
heart OF the woman was filled with
hate The most vindictive thing
n the world is overtaken sin, be it
In man or woman. This womans
hate was implacable.
Us. s. The king was murderer
in his heart. and he was a coward
besides. He did not dare to ange,
the common people. John was a
i popular idol. a man who dares to
attack fearlessly is always dear to
the popular heart To arouse that
heart against himself not even
wicked Antipas dared to do. It
l would have made tumult, made
l doubtless, riot and bloodshed. and
swift inquiry by Rome.
\ king did not wish any inquiries
1 into his unprincipled life. There
4 had been no Hebrew prophet for
l almost four hundred years. al d
4 the people almost worshipped this
1 great one that had arisen.
l Us. 8. \ birthday of a king was
great occasion. Such days are
/ yet. We keep, even we common
I people do, our birthdays, and make
7, them times OF happiness. and m;rth
sometimes. Herod and his lords
Z made tie kings birthday an occa-
sion for a banquet and drunken
4 orgy. The queens daughter. Sa-
lone. shameless and wickef ns her
| mother. danced for the gratifica-
| ton OF the revelers. 1t was a
1 dance to snake decencv blush. and
it pleased tho worthless kinglet.
Us. !. There have been man,
bad promises made i'll this world
Unlimited. unmodified promises
4 are bad This was one. What
would such a shameless girl be az,
n TO ask He doubtless thought o1
gold, or gems. or qualifications fol
her rova lusts. With an oath Inc
swore it. Whatsoever is an all
embracing word. and kings oatl
must not be gainsaid. If the king
shall be false to his oath, what
will the subject be:
VS.. 8. Did she answer No,
she. What do | want She goe:
with the promise to her mother
What pair to talk together
Poor John in the prison did no,
know. could not know, how hi:
life was being bargained away b,
I the two wickedest women in Pal
estinc
The girl returned to the ban
quet hall, and made the infamous
request What an awful thing
that was. How could she say it