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 the crooked  way  straight  by  his  baptism  of  repentance and  the  rough  ways  plain  by  his  touching appeals to  all! No wonder  people  flocked  by  the thousands to  hear  him,  no  wonder  they  loved  him. God bless  the  people  for  it  now,  as  then,  for  let  a man  but  throw  himself  into  a  work  body  and  soul and with  true  sincerity,  and  straightway  he  finds  the people at  his  back. At last  for  John  came  that  great day when  he  and  Jesus  met,  and  instantly  he  cried: " Behold  the  Lamb  of  God!  "  No  need  of  miracles  to rouse  his  faith;  rather  it  was  his  faith  that  cleft  the heavens and  brought  the  Spirit  and  the  voice  proclaiming Christ  to  be  the  Son  of  God. John's work was done;  thenceforth  he  must  decrease  and  Christ increase. But before  retiring  from  the  scene  he  fearlessly denounced  the  incestuous  union  of  Herod  with his brother  Philip's  wife. A dungeon  in  the  strongest fortress  of  Judea  was  soon  John's  home,  and there took  place  his  passion — the  trial  of  his  faith. Born and  bred  a  Jew,  he  doubtless  looked  as  all Jews did  for  a  conquering  Messias— one  who  should establish one  kingdom,  the  kingdom  of  God  on  earth forever. Yet what  a  disappointment! Here was  he, a prisoner,  seemingly  abandoned  by  the  man  he  himself had  called  the  Son  of  God;  half  his  disciples deserted to  the  Nazarene,  the  other  half  reporting daily that  Christ  was  either  fleeing  from  His  enemies, outraging the  sacred  laws  of  the  Sabbath,  and  of handwashing,  or  consorting  with  the  wicked  and feasting with  the  publicans  and  sinners — John's enemies. Was this  the  man  for  whom  he  (John)  had