The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 257

in the ministry of Jesua to recall that of John. John did no miracle; the fame of Josue was largely owing to the miracles by which his ministry was continuously signal- ized, The power to attract multitudes was the one point obviously in common. But any association was sufficient to revive within Herod's breast the memory of his weak- ness and his crime, and to reproach him with the destruction of a blameless and heroic, prophetic man. "'fhus conscience doth make cowards of us all I " II. THE RESENTMENT OF THE VIOIOUS UNDER REBUKE. Anti pas was guilty of a double incest and II double adultery; he married his niece, who was also his brother's wife, that brother being still alive; and drove his own spouse from him by contracting this sinful union. Herodias was probably influenced by ambition in accepting a position so disgraceful. Amidst the silence or the applause of the courtiers, one voice arose to condemn this shameless conduct. It was the voice of the upright and dauntless John, whose rebuke ,was, "It is not lawful I" No wonder that the wretched woman set herself against the stern prophet ; his presence, his life, must have been to her an incessant reproach. Fain would she have killed him, fearing this influence with the king, and trembling for her own precarious position. There is no hatred so virulent and awful as the hatred of sinners against faithful and righteous rebuke. III. THE CONFLICT BETWEEN CONSCIENCE AND PASSION, The unhappy Herod was torn by two conflicting forces. On the one hand, the malice of Herodias urged him to put the fearless John to death, and thus to silence his rebukes; on.the other hand, he respected and feared (the holy and dauntless prophet, and he was impelled to listen to his words, hearing him eagerly, yet with unsolved perplexity of mind. He kept his prisoner safely, even from the malice of his paramour, whom he would gladly have gratified had not his conscience barred the way. IV. YOUTH AND BEAUTY THE INSTRUMENT OF VINDICTIVENESS. There is a strange contrast between the frivolous and fascinating performances of youth and loveliness, '\nd the dark designs in the background. Herodias watched and delighted to see the passions of her sensual husband moved at sight of her daughter's charms, to hear the rash promise from those unrighteous lips. Base were the means, and baser still the end. When woman's charms are used not only to provoke lust, but to induce to cruelty, can there be a more awful instance of the misuse of the fair gifts of the Creator? Yet history tells of many a tale like this, though perhaps of none so utterly and so irredeemably mournful. V. F ALBE HONOUR AND WICKED PRIDE PREFERRED TO JUSTICE. Vengeance and malice in Herod..ias are fitly matched with weakness and unrighteousness in her ,iaramour. There can be no question that it is right to break a promise when the promise involves in its fulfilment the commission of o. crime. Such a promise it is wrong to make, but to fulfil it makes one wrong two. The motives of Antipas were vile and mean; he wished to gratify the malice of a woman, and to vindicate his arbitrary authority in the presence of his guests. And for such motives he was ready to sacrifice II good man's life. VI. MALIOE TRIUMPHANT. The foolish word was kept; the wicked woman was gratified ; the infamous deed was done. As the Lord expressed it, "Elijah came, allll they did unto him whe.tso11ver they listed." Although the world is ruled by a just Providence, righteousness does not always prosper; vice and crime are not always restrained, or even immediately and manifestly punished. The voice of just rebuke is often silenced ; the head of innocence is often le.id in the dust ; " the godly man fa.Heth ; " the vilest men are exalted. All this is permitted that there may be scope for th,· exercise of faith; that virtue may be tried as in the furnace; that men may learn to look forward to a future state, in which grievances shall be redressed, and retribution shali be made, and the righteousness of the Divine Judge shall. be fully vindicated. VII. THE 0000 MOURN WHOM THE BAD DESTROY. During his brief ministry Johu bad made many disciples, had attached to him many friends. During his captivity, his admirers had been severed from him. Now came the last opportunity for manifesting their reverential affection. When the company of the Baptist's disciples, hearing of their master's violent death, gathered themselves together, and carried the mutilated body to the tomb, what a contrast they a.ll"orded to the company of carousers, in whose presence Herod's foolish oath had doomed a brave, pure man to death I It is well, e,en if "evil entreated" by the frivolous, sensual, and malicious, to have a place in good men's hearts, and afte.r death to live in the remembrance of the righteou11. 254 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. [oH. v1. 1-66,