s in the deepest
significance of that term. Prophecy means the forth-telling of the
Divine message. The prophet is borne along by the stream of Divine
indwelling and inflowing, whether he utters the truth for the moment or
anticipates the future. "God spake _in_ the prophets" (Hebrews i. 1,
R.V.). And when they were conscious of his mighty moving and stirring
within, woe to them if they did not utter it in burning words, fresh
minted from the heart.

With Malachi, the succession that had continued unbroken from the very
foundation of the Jewish commonwealth had terminated. Pious Israelites
might have found befitting expression for that lament in the words, "We
see not our signs: there is no more any prophet" (Psa. lxxiv. 9).

But as the voice of Old Testament prophecy ceased, with its last breath
it foretold that it would be followed, in the after time, by a new and
glorious revival of the noblest traditions of the prophetic office.
"Behold," so God spake by Malachi, "I will send you Elijah the prophet
before the great and terrible day of the Lord come. And he shall turn
the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children
to their fathers; lest I come and smite the earth with a curse" (Mal.
iv. 5, 6).

I. THE FORMATIVE INFLUENCES BY WHICH THE BAPTIST'S PROPHETIC NATURE
WAS MOULDED.--Amongst these we must place in the foremost rank _the
Prophecies_, which had given a forecast of his career. From his
childhood and upwards they had been reiterated in his ear by his
parents, who would never weary of reciting them.

How often he would ponder the reference to himself in the great
Messianic prediction--"Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your
God.... The voice of one that crieth, Prepare ye the way of the Lord;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God...." There was no
doubt as to the relevance of those words to himself (Luke i. 76; Matt.
iii. 3). And it must have unconsciously wrought mightily in the
influence it wielded over his character and ministry.

There was, also, that striking anticipation by Malachi which we have
already quoted, and which directly suggested Elijah as his model. Had
not Gabriel himself alluded to it, when he foretold that the predicted
child would go before the Messiah, in the spirit and power of Elijah
(Luke i. 17)? And again his statement was confirmed by our Lord in
after days (Matt. xi. 14).

Thus the great figure of Elijah was ever before th