Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-10-11
The Mtnts,r, OF John the baptist.

The Ministr. OF John the baptist.
81. John the baptist Is an iron
clasp, unpolishcd. unrraven. ire
movable. n.ldInE the Old Testament
and the NJ" i0eethHr, israeis last
His public appearance waS
preceded 10y period Of preparation.
IN the solitude OF nature. perhaps
where Moses, Elijah, raul and Jesus
are believed 10 nave thought their
problems out uninterrupted by
nnIsy environment, His very appear
ton luxury OF that age. No sVf'
raimcnt FOR him lie was no reed
bending first this way aud then that
as the breath of royalty or .popularc
blew upon him. He stood Gibraltar
like In spite OF themselves he made
the p~vpis ocii"re what they did not
we're sinners and needed 70 repent
RE broke up the placid surface. self
sa,fS,srdi q. Inrren IT,, social political
sound Of his voice the people calmc
running to him crying. in compunc-
ton, What must We do?" lie said
II! you haEe Two coats, give one 10
tho NrSt note OF the social gospel
the first Specification un'icr the Gold.
en- rule Next came the tax colirc-
shall We du?" The answer was uu!ck
stop "Ntorticn." That hit them
rISht where they were, for they were
bent on NJ inG!nS the last penny out
II the people Finally came the sol.
dicrS. To whom he SAID. "iJu no y OIL
"ncc' You are used To- il, You have
me Weapons in Your hands. -" no.
US" them Again he demand
ed rcpcntanco MOI snor, lived.
superficial cuinpunctivu. not the feel
ins tile had aud then it'll. bet
t'r. not the fccbl" AMI moist Signs
with which some prrscnt-daN
rfnnS"ltats are c"ntrnted bu, tho
u art "rok'n i"r ANA from sin. The
rrpv II, ancc which proves its genuine
1.ss in restitution aud reformation.
which shunS the eti itself more than
the eternal punishm"nt aud shame.
1870, oi course. John knew that re-
would COS, his life. He could not
hlng the RIGHTEOUSNESS Of the mon
aaTrCh In MS lace and go, unscathcd.
'eSh :u, oi The y Voice su'tht@ nS, on his
with ever incrcas ng imreriousm.sa,
hand" firing forth fruits that viii
prove the repentance, genuine" In
f; aS1oI.. r,; not ne GOLDEN harped one.
the oft misuuoted lines hut he did
make his contribution TO the great,
Eyer inrr"aa,Hc anthem in this world.
iic snund,d his note which sim CON
tinues ringing full and cleur In the
ears and hearts III men.
Under the Stud, I.ump.
1ohn Was RIGOROUS. hut not morbid.
Tor his converts "r eXhort them TO
don leather gIr'l'eS and cat iocusts
,ut h" did show them how TO live in
'"c "4.!H ana yet he unworldly.
grand car stian act. not greater than
othe:s but great because ii is hrsr
1na at the nnse OF all In the
chfono!oE!cal notation. The Her.
odian name was synonym OF sin
ana Min,, a.. mis ny In The Herods the
re m1urn!ns. The. Very names OF
The chiefs in church and state are
lndices "f the low ehh TO which
ss .maesH , nsh romsmTibsrium. Hsrh1
tAIh pnas l.uke's roster is ii miri or
rrhtctins the civic, military, pro.
H;nriai. cccl"siasiical wretchcdness.
The times called for another Elijah
re Iapnrared in tho person Of John
S ,n,d 'treat awSkenins. The sab
and medithti"n. Even those who did
not accept the teaching were pleased
ny the novel sensation OF John. his
Strange appearance and elcctrlfyinE
words: Inc measure rf his success
Us cNlucnt IN the current and common
hel:ef that he himself was the Mes.
slhn. an error which he quickly cor
st!ll drawn. What must the kins
be Ike whose herald is dcckcd with
such moral grandeur" The burden
OF The message was the immanenc,
~ tho kingdom ~ God. Its upplica-
I"n was a cal Ia immediate repent.
hn"e. Th- sign Of obedience was
baptism John was like Illiiah
n the puickncsS Of his action and
the inc sivrncss of his words Neither.
~ these prophets has any book in
me Iih!e named for him. Their very
persons were their message. Their
| coming was enough In itself
The preaching Of John - BAPTIST
Is not enete one may discard the
| aav az Judgment, but all must con.
ccde mat there is n cotcmporancous
ann continuous judgment in which
IN is brought tn light and ca.
t"mpprnncous he'll i'll which the sim
ner rs 'ormcntcd with the birthstone
N ms, own heart. There Is need of "a
new lnant" I" sing OF the purSatory
- 81 -lHn'N. nov .\nrClO -