among whom was probably Theudas, mentioned by Gamaliel, in the sixth chapter of Acts. A few years afterwards, another similar insurrection took place in Galilee, on occasion of a second taxation. We do not know that any of the leaders in either instance pretended to be the Messiah; but it is not improbable that they did, as such pretensions were very common afterwards. What is to be remarked, is, the restless condition of the people, and how they were ready to follow any leader who promised them relief.

At this moment there appeared in the midst of them, in the desert country of Judea, and not thirty miles from Jerusalem, an austere man, clothed like a hermit, and denouncing sin like one of the ancient Prophets. The attention of the people was turned to him at once. Perhaps, said they, this is he whom we are expecting. There was much in his appearance to favor the idea. He lived frugally on locusts and wild honey, refusing the delicacies of cultivated life. He was coarsely clothed in a garment of camel's hair, with a leathern girdle about his loins. He preached boldly to the people, like another Elijah, and cried, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." He

Mat. iii. Mark i. Luke iii.

also did, what was a new and striking thing; — he baptized those who followed him. It was an old custom to baptize heathen persons when they became converts to Judaism; but it was a new thing to baptize Jews. He declared it to be in preparation for the kingdom of God, that is, the reign of the Messiah. The people therefore, as Luke says, were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts whether he were the Christ or not. They thronged to him from Jerusalem, and all Judea, and were baptized of him in the Jordan, confessing their sins, and anxiously inquiring for the Messiah. Even the chief men of the nation were excited; and a formal deputation of priests and Levites was sent out to him from Jerusalem, while he was at Bethabara beyond Jordan, about thirty-five miles distant, to inquire of him whether he were the Christ, or whether they must wait yet longer for his appearance. John acknowledged to them, that he was not; that he was only come to prepare the way for the Christ, agreeably to the prediction of Isaiah: "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight."

John i.

The people were therefore satisfied that he was not the Messiah; but they honored him as a great prophet, and he preached to them with boldness and severity. When he saw Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, whom he knew to be hypocritical and worldly, he cried out to them, "O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth fruit meet for repentance." He did not spare them, though they were members of the most powerful sects in the land. To the publicans also, and soldiers, who came to him, he gave appropriate warning and instruction. And, in a word, he did what he could, to rouse the nation from its sinful condition, and prepare it to receive in a right spirit the great messenger who was to succeed him. He undoubtedly produced some effect; but the people were too corrupt to be easily reformed. Indeed they were so intent on having a Messiah who should lead them to political freedom and glory, that they had little relish for moral exhortation and religious duty.

4*

THE BEGINNING OF HIS MINISTRY.

THE time at length arrived, when Jesus should enter on his public work. He had reached the age of thirty years, the period prescribed in the law for the induction of the priests into their office. Hitherto he had lived in retirement, undistinguished from the men about him. He had been making no visible preparation for the great duties he was to perform. He attended no distinguished school; he was brought up at the feet of no learned Rabbi or eminent philosopher; it is not certain that he had learned, as men learn, the very elements of knowledge. Having therefore no human attainments to fit him for his arduous office, he must be qualified for it by supernatural endowments. Nothing but the consciousness of possessing these, could embolden and enable the lowly Galilean to undertake the religious reformation of his country and of the world.

The time being arrived, he left Nazareth, and went to the place where John was preaching and baptizing on the banks of the Jordan. He went,

Matt. iii. 13. Mark i. 9. Luke iii. 21.

like the rest of the people, to be baptized. Now John and Jesus, being related to each other through their mothers, who were cousins, were probably well acquainted, though they did not live in the same place; but John did not know that Jesus was the Messiah. So well however did he know the purity of his character, that when he saw him coming to be baptized, he was unwilling to allow it. It is more fit, said he, that you should baptize me, and do you come to me? But Jesus answered, that it was a duty to observe all religious ordinances, and this one ought not to be neglected. He did not need it as a sign of his sinfulness and repentance; but he wished to conform to it, because it was appointed of God. "Thus it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness." John was satisfied with this explanation, and baptized him. Then came the moment for announcing the Messiah to the world. The heavens opened, and the spirit descended in visible form like a dove, and alighted on him; and at the same moment a voice was heard from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

This was, the first public attestation to the Messiahship of Jesus. The arrival of the long expected prophet was thus proclaimed. John,