1 At that time Herod the Tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,
2 And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist ; lie is risen from the dead ; and therefore mighty works do shew foith themselves in him.
3 For Herod had hiid hold on John, and bound him, and put 'him in prison for Ilerodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife.
4 For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.
5 And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, be- cause they eounted him ns a p'.-ophet.
6 But when H'jrod's birthday was kept, the dauachterof Herodiasdaneed before them, and pleased Herod.
7 Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.
8 And she, being before instructed of her mother, said. Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger.
9 And the king was sorry : never- thelee,s for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he com- manded it to be given lier.
10 And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.
11 And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel : and she brought it to her mother.
12 And his disciples came, and took up the body and buried it, and went and told Jesus.
We have in this passage a page out of God's book of martyrs — the history of the death of John the Baptist. The wickedness of king Herod^ the bold reproof which John gave him, the consequent imprisonment of the faithful reprover, and the disgraceful circumstances of his death, are all written for our learning. " Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." (Psalm cxvi. 15.)
The story of John the Baptist's death is told more fully by St. Mark than by St. Matthew. For the present it seems sufficient to draw two general lessons from St. Matthew's narrative, and to fasten our attention exclu- sively upon them.
Let us learn, in the first place, from these verses, the great power of conscience.
King Herod hears of " the fame of Jesus," and says to his servants, " This is John the Baptist : he is risen from the dead." He remembered his own wicked deal- ings with that holy man, and his heart failed within him.
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His heart told liim tliat he had despised his godly counsel, and committed a foul and abominable murder. And his heart told him, that though he had killed John, there would yet be a reckoning day. He and John the Baptist would yet meet again. Well says Bishop Hall, " a wicked man needs no other tormentor, especially for sins of blood, than his own heart."
There is a conscience in all men by nature. Let this never be forgotten. Fallen, lost, desperately wicked as we are all born into the" world, God has taken care to leave Himself a witness in our bosoms. It is a poor blind guide, without the Holy Ghost. It can save no one. It leads no one to Christ. It may be seared and trampled under foot. But there is such a thing as con- science in every man, accusing or excusing him ; and Scripture and experience alike declare it. (Kom. ii. 15.)
Conscience can make even kings miserable, v/hen they have wilfully rejected its advice. It can fill the j^nnces of this world with fear and trembling, as it did Felix, when Paul preached. They find it easier to imprison and behead the preacher, than to bind his sermon, and silence the voice of his reproof in their own hearts. God's witnesses may be put out of the way, but their testimony often lives and works on long after they are dead. God's prophets live not for ever, but their words often sur\dvo them. (2 Tim. ii. 9. Zech. i. 5.)
Let the thoughtless and ungodly remember this, and not sin against their consciences. Let them know that their sins will '' surely find them out." They may laugh, and jest, and mock at religion for a little time. They may cry, ''Who is afraid .^ Where is the mighty harm of