ut a coming King will be high treason in
the ears of Herod."

I think if any one had dared to give John such counsel, he would
have replied: "I have received my message from heaven; what do I
care for Herod or any one else?"

As he stood thundering away and calling on the people to repent, I
can see Herod, with his guard of soldiers around him, listening
attentively to find anything in the preacher's words that he can lay
hold of. At last John says:

"The King is just at the door. He will set up His kingdom, and will
separate the wheat from the chaff."

I can imagine Herod then saying to himself: "I will have that man's
head off inside of twenty-four hours. I would arrest him here and
now if I dared. I will catch him to-morrow before the crowd
gathers."

By and by, as Herod listens, some of the people begin to press close
up to the preacher, and to question him. Some soldiers are among
them, and they ask John:

"What shall we do?"

John answers: "Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely;
and be content with your wages."

"That is pretty good advice," Herod thinks; "I have had a good deal
of trouble with these men, but if they follow the preacher's advice,
it will make them better soldiers."

Then he hears the publicans ask John, as they come to be baptized:

"What shall we do?"

The answer is: "Exact no more than that which is appointed you."

"Well," says Herod, "that is excellent advice. These publicans are
all the time overtaxing the people. If they would do as the preacher
tells them, the people would be more contented."

Then the preacher addresses himself to the Pharisees and the
Sadducees in the crowd, and cries:

"O generation of vipers! Who hath warned you to flee from the wrath
to come? Bring forth fruits worthy of repentance."

Says Herod within himself: "I like that. I am glad he is giving it
pretty strong to these men. I do not think I will have him arrested
just yet."

So he goes back to his palace. I can imagine he was

NOT ABLE TO SLEEP MUCH

that night; he kept thinking of what he had heard. When the Holy
Ghost is dealing with a man's conscience, very often sleep departs
from him. Herod cannot get this wilderness preacher and his message
out of his mind. The truth had reached his soul; it echoed and re
-echoed within him: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
He says:

"I went out to-day to hear for the Roman Government; I think I will
go to-morrow and he