. I would have said, "I do not believe that the bloodthirsty
wretch who took the life of John the Baptist ever had a serious
thought in his life about his soul's welfare." I held that opinion
because there is one scene recorded in Herod's life that I had
overlooked. But some years ago, when I was going through the gospel
of Mark, making a careful study of the book, I found this verse:

"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." (Mark vi, 20).

This caused me to change my views about Herod. I saw that he was not
only brought within the sound of John's voice, but under the power
of the Spirit of God; his heart was touched and his conscience
awakened. We are not told under what circumstances he heard John;
but the narrative plainly states that he was brought under the
influence of the Baptist's wonderful ministry.

Let me first say a word or two about

THE PREACHER.

I contend that John the Baptist must have been one of the grandest
preachers this world has ever had. Almost any man can get a hearing
nowadays in a town or a city, where the people live close together;
especially if he speaks in a fine building where there is a splendid
choir, and if the meetings have been advertised and worked up for
weeks or months beforehand. In such circumstances any man who has a
gift for speaking will get a good audience. But it was very
different with John. He drew the people out of the towns and cities
away into the wilderness. There were no ministers to back him; no
business men interested in Christ's cause to work with him; no
newspaper reporters to take his sermons down and send them out. He
was an unknown man, without any title to his name. He was not the
Right-Rev. John the Baptist, D. D., or anything of the kind, but
plain John the Baptist. When the people went to inquire of him if he
were Elias or Jeremiah come back to life, he said he was not.

"Who are you then?"

"I am the Voice of one crying in the wilderness."

He was nothing but a voice--to be heard and not seen; he was Mr.
Nobody. He regarded himself as a messenger who had received his
commission from the eternal world.

How he began his ministry, and how he gathered the crowds together
we are not informed. I can imagine that one day this strange man
makes his appearance in the valley of the Jordan, where he finds a
few shepherds tending their flocks. Th