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 b)  the  duty  of  justice:  “Do  nothing  more  than  that  which  is  appointed you”;  — “Do  violence  to  no  man,  neither  calumniate  any  man; and  be  content  with  your  pay”.

The testimony  to  Christ  borne  by  St. John is  very  striking. He testified that  the  Messias  was  much  higher  and  greater  than  himself;  and he testified  to  His  divine  nature,  for  if  the  Christ  could  baptize  with  the Holy Ghost,  and  had  the  right  to  judge  and  condemn,  He  must  be  God.

Confession of  sins.  Those  who  were  baptized  by  John  openly confessed their  sins. They did  this,  because,  being  seized  with  a deep compunction, they  hoped  to  obtain  pardon  of  their  sins  by  a sincere confession. He who  is  truly  contrite,  is  always  willing  to  confess  his sins. In the  Old  Testament,  a confession  of  sins  was  an  obligatory  part of a sin-offering; and  in  the  New  Testament,  confession  is  a necessary condition for  the  Sacrament  of  Penance.

The Baptism  of  John  was  not  a Sacrament, and  could  not  effect any purification  or  sanctification. It was  only  designed  to  admonish men that  they  needed  inward  purifying  from  sins,  and  must  prepare themselves for  it  by  true  contrition. It was  at  the  same  time  a type  of Christian  Baptism,  by  which  men  are  cleansed  and  sanctified  through the Holy  Ghost.

You too  must  bring  forth  fruits  worthy  of penance. Have you  had  true  contrition  and  made  firm  purposes  of amendment  each  time  you  have  been  to  confession? Have you  always confessed your  sins  sincerely  and  fully? And do  you  think  you  have really 'improved since  your  last  confession? In what  way  have  you improved?

N those  days  when  Jesus  was  about  thirty  years  of  age,  He went  from  Nazareth  to  the  Jordan  to  be  baptized  by  John. But John  stayed  Him,  saying;  “I  ought  to  be  baptized  by  Thee,