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 "Then," said  they,  "  thou  art  Elias  returned  to earth,  or  one  of  the  prophets  risen  from  the  dead," but he  answered:  "I  am  not." The austerity  of John's  life  resembled  that  of  Elias. John never wrote his  prophesies;  neither  did  Elias. John was the precursor  of  the  Lord — a  mission,  they  knew, Elias was  one  day  to  fulfil. John denounced  the  sinful union  of  Herod  with  his  brother's  wife,  even  as Elias  did  that  of  Achab  and  Jezabel;  all  of  which  led the people  to  conclude  that  John  was  none  other than the  Thesbian  returned  to  earth. But once again the  humble  Baptist  rises  superior  to  self, declaring: "  No,  I  am  but  the  voice  of  one  crying in  the  wilderness,  prepare  ye  the  way  of  the  Lord, the  latchet  of  whose  shoe  I  am  not  worthy  to  loose." There is  nothing,  it  seems  to  me,  so  lovely,  so  edifying, so  altogether  touching,  as  profound  humility  in union  with  the  loftiest  greatness. It is  something we can  admire  always,  even  when,  in  our  little  way, we despair  of  imitation. It forms  the  chief  charm  of John's  character. Too humble  to  speak  of  himself, even as  an  individual,  but  rather  as  a  breath,  a  voice, a cry  sent  forth  into  the  wilderness  of  this  world. Yet he  unconsciously  gave  himself,  thereby,  his  due meed of  praise,  by  proclaiming  himself  a  very  part  of the  Saviour  Himself. " The  word  of  God,"  we  are told, "  came  to  John,  the  son  of  Zachary,  in  the desert." He was  the  word  of  God  verbally,  even  as Christ  was  substantially. So true  was  he  to  his  mission that  his  whole  being,  and  reason  for  being,  was expressed in  that  one  cry:  "  Prepare  ye  the  way  of