Page:The four Gospels - translated from the Latin Vulgate, and diligently compared with the original Greek text, being a revision of the Rhemish translation (IA TheFourGospelsTranslated).pdf/53

ST. MATTHEW. 45 CHAPTER III.

The preaching of John: Christ is baptized.

1. And in those days cometh John the Baptist preaching in the desert of Judea,

2. And saying: Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

3. For this is he, that was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “A voice of one crying in the desert, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight His paths.”

56 This does not necessarily connect the fact about to be related with what has preceded. It is a general reference to the time of the event. fessed to be penitent. There were various baptisms, or rites of purifi- cation, in the Mosaic law, which were practised on the occasions pre- scribed. Proselytes to the Jewish religion were also baptized, to signify their purification from the defilements of heatheniam; but baptism was administered by John to the Jews generally in token of change of life. mons, were popularly styled deserts. John began his preaching in such places. Mark i. 4; Luke iii. 3. I have followed, in this place, 4, a Catho- lic, in adopting the word "regent," although, as Campbell acknow- ledges, it does not fully express the force of the original term. "Agite pœnitentiam" of the Vulgate is an elegant and precise version; but "do penance," which literally corresponds to the Latin, is by usage deter- mined to signify the practice of penitential works, rather than the exercise of the virtue itself, Reform," suggested by Campbell, does not express the compunction of the mind, which is the precise force of the Greek term. I have retained the Rhemish translation in other places, where reference is made to external humiliation. The reign of the Messiah was sometimes styled "the kingdom of heaven," as being heavenly in its origin, principles, and object; it was also called "the kingdom of God," its author and end. John proclaimed that it was very near. The evangelist, not John, now speaks. aloud to warn all of his approach. 1 Messengers went before kings in the East to have the roads put in order, that they might travel with safety and ease. To this allusion is made. 1 Digitized by Google
 * John was distinguished by this title, because he baptized all who pro-
 * Places thinly inhabited, and uninclosed pasture grounds, or com-
 * John is compared to a herald, running before a king, and shouting