The Alaska citizen., 1916-03-27
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THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

There was man sent from God. whose name was John" John Is.
 God always prepares man for the ushering in of an epoch. The -acia! conditions when Jesus came ware such trat a mighty conflagra- tisn must sweep the land before the good seed could be sown. Five hun dfct years had passed since there had been a prophet of God in Israel Like Moses, John had dwelt in the wi dcrness to complete his life for tn mission Of preparing the way for the coming of lsraels king. Like Elijah he revolted from form, and show, and hyprocrlsy Like Savonarola, when a delegation from the S4nhedrim waited on him, he answered that he was responsible only 10 hi; conscience and his God. Like Wesley. he believed in the freedom of the will, and called upon
 
 men 10 repent and believe the Cos pei. Like Moody, he believed that no man could reap the rewards of good while sowing the seed of sin. Ii was give unto the fire to pre- pare the ground for the seed, and unto the ,uD and shower to awak- an tie new seed to life Jchn'e Gospel was to destroy the weeds, ther, w.s to come a gospel that would SOW a new eeed and warm it to fruition.
 Je~us calls John the greatest of the prophets Now the mission of the prophet was to foretell the coming of divine events. and to warn the people cf their approach. The modern idea of the prophet is the setting forh of eternal principles. John drew back the curtain Of darkness arI showed the people the world of wickedneqs that dwelt beneath, a, Ie made straight the pathway thar was to lead men to the Lamb of God that would take away the Sm of the world. John saw the truet clearly and spoke forth the remedy from sin. Abra- ham Lincoln was prophet when he saw la the republic could not nprm@rpntlv exist half slave and half free He spoke forth as bravely as did John and his fearless spirit, though often alone. dared to pro claI,.. the right Cough was pro plet wher he told the multitudes of tho dreadful effects of rum, and for wears Ie set up { movement that Is stl.I gathering force. Beech CT was a prophet of God when he protested against machine made world with Cod dwelling in the dis tance and urt to flight the ideas of the revolutionists John was a prophet because he saw the people were doing evil and he desired that they should re brought back to re gime of righteousness. Among the mountain-minded men of history, and the names tlat endure the world will write large the name of John the Baptist.
 When the ;-ews came that pro phet had cone after five centuries of waiting, the people rushed as with one mind to hear his words. Josephus tells that more than million pa0p'e came to hear the new voice crying in the wilderness repent" History is full Of records of q neW prophet gaining great crowds Martin Luther called forth men of every rank to listen to a man who dared to beard the lion of ignorance and superstition. Most every decfde tells of man oi woman w'o has obtained the ear of the public into which may be poured the truth or falsehood of SOlHG lt pIllloSOpiS' III ooiiAA U day the soldier cried, What shall doE" The servant who had hid den his lords money said, And what shall I do?" The tax gather CT cried out "Extortioner." The maid who lad stolen a handful of grain said Thief" The multitude brought theil sins and sobbed forth in anguish, Lord be merciful to me a sinner" How noble a thing is repentance. At the moment it seems erievous, while afterwards 1t is joyous Fallen leaves foul the spring the sick man to cleanse the foun tain For the moment the cleansing seems senscless and unnecessary but soon the spring runs clear again and health IS the result to parched lips. So was it with Johns gospel It seems grievous to expose lies long hidden. secret thefts. unsus pccted infidelities.
 III John, g>s2el was a stron@ element of fear His work was iu tearing up he soil and breaking up the clods No seed could find lodgment to fulfil its mission oi growth and fruitage. Jesus could not build his gospel of activ y upon cold soil hardened with cen turies of the heavy tread of evil rCb;c faar had fparfnl ,nisSion tC