Sidor som bilder
PDF
ePub

SECTION XXXI.

DEATH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST.

MARK VI. 14.

AND King Herod heard of Jesus, (for his name was spread abroad,) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him. Others

said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, even as one of the prophets. But when Herod heard thereof, he said, John, whom I beheaded, is risen from the dead.-For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison, for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife; for he had married her. For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife. Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him, but she could not. For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man, and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birth-day made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee; and when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod, and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me what

soever thou wilt, and I will give it thee And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom. And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist. And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked him, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist. And the king was exceeding sorry, yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her. And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel; and the damsel gave it to her mother. And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.

REFLECTIONS.

A good man falls a victim to the caprice of a tyrant, directed by an artful and abandoned woman. We pity the sufferer, but do we envy his murderers? Could the grandeur of Herod compensate for the agony he endured, when the soul of John had ascended to its home in heaven? What peace could the depraved Herodias find, amid the storm of her own passions, in the thought that a servant of God had been murdered by her orders-that another had been

added to her dark list of crimes? The headlong passions of men make their own punishment. The malevolent inay inflict agony on others, but for every wound he gives, a fiercer pain sinks into his own heart. The path of happiness is that of rectitude, though it lie amid dangers, and terminate in a violent and untimely death. That the length of life should be measured, not by its years, but by its deeds, is an old observation. He in truth lives to most advantage, who has enjoyed most constantly true happiness; and this is to be found in the gratification of the generous and affectionate feelings, in the approbation of conscience, and in the love of God.

HYMN.

The monarch gave his edict forth,
His ready slaves obey'd ;
The holy Baptist in his blood

Upon the earth was laid.

Yet who could then with envy view

The tyrant in his pride,

Or not the prophet's fate prefer,
Who by his order died?

Another's vengeance to perform,
The bloody deed was done;
And now remorse and anguish sate
With Herod on his throne.

The prophet's soul, by earthly pain
And care no more oppress'd,
Rejoicing to its Maker sprung-
To heaven's eternal rest.

PART VI.

TO THE DEPARTURE OF JESUS FROM GALILEE.

SECTION XXXII.

FIVE THOUSAND MIRACULOUSLY FED.

MARK VI. 30.

AND the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught. And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while. For there were many coming and going; and they had no leisure so much as to eat. And they departed into a desert place by ship privately. And the people saw them departing; and many knew him ; and ran afoot thither out of all cities. And when he came out, he saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep, not having a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed; send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to

« FöregåendeFortsätt »