latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose."
Think of that; and bear in mind that Christ was looked upon as a
deceiver, a village carpenter, and yet here is John, the son of the
old priest, who had a much higher position in the sight of men than
that of Jesus. Great crowds were coming to hear him, and even Herod
attended his meetings.

When his disciples came and told John that Christ was beginning to
draw crowds, he nobly answered: "A man can receive nothing, except it
be given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness that I said, I
am not the Christ, but that I am sent before Him. He that hath the
bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which
standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the
bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must
increase, but I must decrease."

It is easy to read that, but it is hard for us to live in the power of
it. It is very hard for us to be ready to decrease, to grow smaller
and smaller, that Christ may increase. The morning star fades away
when the sun rises.

"He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is
earthly, and speaketh of the earth: He that cometh from heaven is
above all, and what He hath seen and heard, that He testifieth; and no
man receiveth His testimony. He that hath received His testimony hath
set to his seal that God is true. For He whom God hath sent speaketh
the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him."

Let us now turn the light upon ourselves. Have we been decreasing of
late? Do we think less of ourselves and of our position than we did a
year ago? Are we seeking to obtain some position of dignity? Are we
wanting to hold on to some title, and are we offended because we are
not treated with the courtesy that we think is due us? Some time ago I
heard a man in the pulpit say that he should take offence if he was
not addressed by his title. My dear friend, are you going to take that
position that you must have a title, and that you must have every
letter addressed with that title or you will be offended? John did not
want any title, and when we are right with God, we shall not be caring
about titles. In one of his early epistles Paul calls himself the
"least of all the apostles." Later on he claims to be "less than the
least of all saints," and again, just before his death, humbly
declares that he is the "chief of sinners." Notice how he seems to