ng can stay
it but repentance, confession, restitution, so far as may be, and the
blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, which cleanseth from all sin.

From time to time it would seem as though the strictness of John's
imprisonment was relaxed. His disciples were permitted to see him, and
tell him of what was happening in the world without; but stranger than
all, he was summoned to have audiences with Herod himself.

Another rendering of Mark vi. 19, 20, which is perfectly legitimate,
and is favoured by the R.V., suggests that the king was ill at ease,
and swept to and fro by very different currents.

First, he was deeply incensed. As he thought of the manner in which
the Baptist had treated him, denouncing him before his court, the fire
of anger burnt fiercely within his breast; and he had beside him a Lady
Macbeth, a beautiful fiend and temptress, who knew that while the
Baptist lived, and dared to speak as he had done, her position was not
safe. She knew Herod well enough to dread the uprising of his
conscience at the appeals of truth. And perpetually, when she saw her
chance, she whispered in Herod's ear, "The sooner you do away with that
man the better. You don't love me perfectly, as long as you permit him
to breathe. Unmannerly cur!" "Herodias set herself against him, and
desired to kill him; but she could not."

On the other side, Herod was in fear. He feared John, "knowing that he
was a righteous man and a holy." He feared the people, because they
held him for a prophet. And, beneath all, he feared God, lest he
should step in to avenge any wrong perpetrated against his servant.

Between these two influences he was "much perplexed" (Mark vi. 20,
R.V.). When he was with Herodias, he thought as she did, and left her,
almost resolved to give the fatal order; but when he was alone, the
other influence made itself felt, and he would send for John:

"I would like to see him again, chamberlain--tell the gaoler to send
the Baptist hither; let his coming to my private room be, however, kept
secret. I don't want all my court blabbing."

And the gaoler would come to the cell door, and call to his prisoner,
with a mixture of effrontery and obsequiousness, "Up, man; the king
wants you. Put on your softest speech. It will serve you better than
that rasping tongue of yours. Why cannot you leave the king and his
private affairs alone? They are no business of yours or mine."

And might not Herod attempt to ind