At that time appeared John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea,

for it is of John the prophet Esaias spoke, when he said, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths clear."

now John wore a coat made of camels hair, with a leathern girdle about his waist; and his food was locusts and wild hony.

Then went Jesus from Galilee to Jordan to be baptized by John.

but John opposed him, I have need, said he, to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?

and Jesus answer'd, Let it be so for the present, for it becometh us to do whatever is right. then John consented.

After this, Jesus having heard that John was confined in prison, retired into Galilee.

Going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were in a bark with Zebedee their father, mending their nets: and Jesus having called them,

Then John's disciples came to him and said, why do the Pharisees, as well as we, observe so many fasts, and your disciples keep none?

James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas, and Matthew the publican, James the son of Alpheus, and Labbeus, whose sirname was Thaddeus, Simon the zelot,

in the mean time John having heard in his confinement of the actions of Christ, he sent two of his disciples to ask him,

Jesus answered them, go and relate to John, what you hear and what you see:

As they departed, Jesus said to the people, speaking of John, what did ye go to see in the desert? a reed shaken with the wind?

I declare unto you, among the whole race of prophets, there never appear'd a greater than John the Baptist: (notwithstanding, he that is least in the kingdom of the

Messiah is greater than he.) for ever since the appearance of John the Baptist the gospel kingdom is as it were invaded, and people of the most violent passions enter into it with zeal.

for all the prophets and the law were your guides, till the coming of John.

so John came with fasting and abstinence, and they say, he is mad.

and said to his servants, this is John the baptist, he is risen from the dead, and consequently is invested with miraculous power.

for Herod having secur'd John, bound him, and put him in prison to please Herodias, his brother Philip's wife.

for John had said to him, it is not lawful for thee to have her.

who being before instructed by her mother, pray, said she, order John Baptist's head to be brought here in a charger.

and pursuant to order, John was beheaded in the prison,

they replied, some think you are John the Baptist, some Elias, and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

to whom Jesus reply'd, blessed art thou Simon, son of Jona: for 'tis not man that hath revealed this unto thee, but my father who is in heaven.

After six days, Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, in private to the top of a high mountain.

then the disciples perceiv'd, that what he said was meant of John the Baptist.

the baptism of John, whence was it? was it a divine or a human Institution? and they reasoned thus with themselves, if we say, it was divine; he will say, then, why did ye not believe him?

but if we say, it was merely human, we are obnoxious to the people; for all hold John as a prophet.

for John instructed you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the licentious believed him. and tho' you saw that, you did not yet repent, so as to believe him.

accordingly, John baptized in the desart, and preach'd the baptism of repentance, for the remission of sins.

now John was clothed with camels hair, with a leathern girdle about his waist: and his food was locusts and wild honey.

At that time Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in Jordan.

But after John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, spreading the good news of the kingdom of the Messiah.

when he had gone a little further, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the bark mending their nets. whereupon he called them:

As soon as they were come out of the synagogue, they went with James and John into the house of Simon and Andrew,

It was customary for the Pharisees, and the disciples of John, to fast; they came therefore and ask'd him, why do John's disciples, and the Pharisees fast so frequently, and not your disciples?

and John the brother of James, (whom he had named Boanerges, that is to say, sons of thunder.)

and he suffered no man to follow him, except Peter, and James, and John the brother of James:

In the mean time king Herod heard of Jesus, whose name was now celebrated, and he said, John the Baptist is risen from the dead, no wonder then that he works miracles.

but Herod, from what he had heard, said, 'tis John himself, whom I caused to be beheaded, who is risen from the dead.

for Herod had given orders to seize John, and had confin'd him in prison, to gratify Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, whom he had married;

upon which John told him, "it is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."

because Herod had a respect for John, knowing him to be a very honest good man, and therefore protected him; having reform'd many things upon his remonstrances, which he us'd to receive very graciously.

then she withdrew, and said to her mother, what shall I ask? the head of John the Baptist, said she.

upon which she instantly fled to the king, and said, I desire to have John the Baptist's head brought hither immediately in a charger.

but immediately dispatch'd the proper officer with orders to bring the head of John the Baptist.

of which John's disciples being inform'd, they came to fetch his corps, which they laid in a sepulchre.

they answered, some say you are John the Baptist; others, Elias; and others, one of the prophets.

Six days after Jesus took Peter, James and John, and accompanied them up a high mountain in private; and was transfigured in their presence.

Upon this occasion John address'd himself to Jesus, saying, master, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, tho' he did not belong to us, for which reason we opposed him.

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him, and said, we desire you would grant us what we request.

but the other ten, when they heard this, were fill'd with indignation against James and John.

the baptism of John, was it of divine, or of human institution?

if we should say, it was a human institution, we run a risk from the people. (for they all believed John was a true prophet.)

and when he was sitting upon the mount of Olives over-against the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew said to him in private, tell us,

but he took with him Peter, James, and John. then he began to be in a great consternation and anguish of mind. and he said to them; my soul is exceeding sorrowful,

but the angel said to Zacharias, don't be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard: and your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son, whom you shall name John:

and said, no, he shall be called John.

then he made signs for a writing-book, and writ these words, "his name is John:" at which they were all surprized.

All of a sudden an army of celestial beings join'd the angel, singing praises to God, and saying,

under the pontificate of Annas and Caiaphas, JOHN, the son of Zacharias, received his divine commission in the wilderness.

As the people were in suspence, every man imagining in his own mind that John might be the Messiah;

to compleat all the rest, Herod confin'd John in prison.

son of Heli, son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of Melchi, son of Janna, son of Joseph,

son of Maath, son of Mattathias, son of Semi, son of Joseph, son of Juda, son of Joanna,

so was James too, and John, the sons of Zebedee, both partners with Simon. but Jesus said to Simon, be not afraid; for the future you shall fish for men.

I came not to call saints, but sinners to repentance. Then they ask'd him, how comes it that John's disciples,

(to whom he gave the name of Peter) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,

John was soon inform'd of these transactions by his disciples,

accordingly they came to Jesus, and said, John the Baptist sent us to enquire, if you are he that was to come, or must we look for another?

then he gave them this answer, go, and tell John what you have seen, and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are healed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the gospel is proclaim'd to the poor.

When the messengers of John were departed, he address'd himself to the people, and said with relation to John, what did you go to see in the desart? a reed shaken with the wind?

I declare unto you, among the whole race of mankind, there is not a prophet, who is superiour to John the Baptist: yet he that is most inferiour in the kingdom of the Messiah, is greater than he.

all the people, even the publicans, upon hearing him, gave glory to God, by receiving the baptism of John;

but the Pharisees and the doctors of the law rejected the divine offers made to them, refusing to be baptized by John.

for John the Baptist, when he came, abstain'd from bread and wine; yet you say, he is possess'd with a demon.

Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's high-steward: Susanna, and several others, who assisted him with their fortunes.

being come to the house, he suffer'd nobody to go into the room with him, except Peter, John and James, and the young woman's father and mother.

Now Herod the tetrarch was inform'd of all his transactions: and was perplex'd at the relation of some, that John was risen from the dead: whilst others said, Elias appear'd:

but Herod said, John was beheaded by my order, who then can this be, who, they say, performs such strange things? and he desired to have a sight of Jesus.

they answered, some say you are John the Baptist: others, Elias: and others, that you are one of the old prophets appearing again.

About eight days after this discourse, he took with him Peter, John, and James, and went up a mountain to pray.

Then said John to Jesus, master, we saw one casting out demons in your name, and we oppos'd it, because he does not follow you with us.

his disciples James and John observing this, said, Lord, shall we command fire to descend from heaven, as Elias did, in order to consume them?

One day Jesus had been praying in a certain place, and as soon as he had done, one of his disciples said to him, instruct us about prayer, as John the baptist instructed his disciples.

He that does not join with me, is against me: and he that is not active for me, is a deserter.

the law and the prophets were the only rule till John's time: since when, the kingdom of God has been proclaim'd, and all sorts of people strive to be members.

tell me, the baptism of John, was it a divine or a human institution?

if we should assert, it was a human contrivance, the populace would stone us; for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.

Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, go, and make provision for our eating the paschal-lamb.

it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and others with them, who gave the apostles this relation:

now while they were conferring and debating together, Jesus himself join'd them and walk'd along with them.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

it was of him that John bare witness, when he made this declaration, "this was he of whom I said, he that cometh after me, was before me; for he did indeed exist before me."

This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem, to ask him, who he was.

John answered them, I baptize with water: but there is one among you, whom ye know not; he it is who coming after me,

these things were transacted at Bethabara, near Jordan, where John used to baptize.

The next day John saw Jesus coming to him, and said, "behold the lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world."

and John testified, saying, I saw the spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

The next day after, John was again there with two of his disciples: