of inqtdry, — "Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?" He doubtless calculated that they would receive such an answer as would make an indelible impression on their minds. And he was right. They got an answer in deeds, as well as words, — an answer which probably produced a deeper effect than any argu- ments which they could have heard from their master's lips.
We can easily imagine that John the Baptist must have felt much anxiety about the future course of his disciples. He knew their ignorance and weakness in the faith. He knew how natural it was for them to regard the disciples of Jesus with feelings of jealousy and envy. He knew how likely it was that petty party-spirit would creep in among them, and make them keep aloof from Christ when their own master was dead and gone. Against this imhappy state of things he makes provision, as far as possible, while he is yet alive. He sends some of them to Jesus, that they may see for themselves what kind of teacher He is, and not reject Him unseen and unheard. He takes care to supply them with the strongest evidence that our Lord was indeed the Mes- siah. Like his divine Master, having loved his disciples, he loved them to the end. And now, perceiving that he must soon leave them, he strives to leave them in the best of hands. He does his best to make them acquainted with Christ.
What an instructive lesson we have here for ministers, and parents, and heads of families, — ^for all, in short, who have anything to do with the souls of others ! We should endeavour, like John the Baptist, to provide for the future spiritual welfare of those we leave behind, when
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216 EXPOSnORY THOtraHTB.
we die. We should often remind them, that we cannot always be with them.. We should often urge them ta beware of the broad way, when we are taken from them, and they are left alone in the world. We should spare no pains to make all, who in any way look up to us, acquainted with Christ. Happy are those ministers and parents, whose consciences can testify on their death-beds, that they have told their hearers and children to go to Jesus, and fdlow Him !
We should mark, secondly in these verses, the peculiar answer which the disciples of John received from our Lord. We are told that ''in the same hour He cured many of their infirmities and plagues." And then, "He said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard." He makes no formal declaration that He is the Messiah that was to come. He simply supplies the messengers with facts to repeat to their master, and sends them away. He knew well how John the Baptist would employ these facts. He would say to his disciples, ''Behold in Him who worked these miracles, the prophet greater than Moses. — ^This is He whom you must hear and follow, when I am dead. — ^This is indeed the Christ."
Our Lord's reply to John's disciples, contains a great practical lesson, which we shall do well to remember. It teaches us that the right way to test the value of Churches and ministers, is to examine the works they do for God, and the firuits they bring forth. Would we know whether a Church is true and trust-worthy P — Would we know whether a minister is really called of Ood, and sound in the faith P — ^We must apply the old
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