may be slandered and misrepresented, the Lord Jesns Christ writes all their doings in His book. He lives who testified to the importance of John the Baptist's ministry, when John was dead and buried. He will yet testify to the toil of every one of His faithful servants at the last day. In the world they may have tribulation and dis- appointment. But they are not forgotten by Christ.
Let us notice, lastly, in this passage, the fakehood of which our Lord*8 enemies were guilty. In reply to our Lord's question whether John's baptism was from heaven or men, " they answered that they could not tell." This was a downright untruth. They could have told, but they would not. They knew that if they said what they really believed they would condemn themselves. K they confessed that John was a prophet sent from God, they would be guilty of a gross inconsistency in not believing his testimony about Christ.
Falsehoods like this, it may be feared, are only too common among unconverted men. Thousands will say anything rather than acknowledge themselves to be in the wrong. Lying is just one of the sins to whicli the human heart is most naturally inclined, and one of the commonest sins in the world. Qehazi, Ananias and Sapphira have more followers and imitators than Peter and Paul. The number of lies which are constantly told by men, to save their own credit, and to cover over their own wickedness, is probably far greater than we are aware.
The true servant of Christ will do well to remember these things as he travels through this world. He must not believe all he hears, and especially in the matter of