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/54

46 THE FOUR GOSPELS. 4. And the same John had his garments of camels’ hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey.

5. Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea, and all the country about Jordan:

6. And they were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

7. And seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them: Ye brood of vipers, who hath taught you to flee from the wrath to come?

This was not unusual; but the garment of the Baptist was rough and uncombed. ¹ Others used girdles of silk, wool, or linen. salt. They are mentioned among eatables in Lev. xi. 22. 6.3. A species of honey trickled from palm and fig trees. Mark i. 5. All the inhabitants of the city and country, especially of that portion which bordered on the Jordan, are said to have gone to John. It is an hyperbole for a very great number. • Immersed. This is the obvious free of the term. It is not, how- ever, certain that he actually plunged them. If they stood in the deep water, and received an ablution of any kind at his hande, they might be said to be baptized by him. T The Greek terms imply more than a general acknowledgment of their ainfulness, as Grotius well observes. They probably specified their chief sins, although not in minute detail. est exactness in every religious observance. They were the leading sect among the Jews. Sadoc, their founder, lived about two hundred and sixty years before Christ. To receive it. "Luke iii. 7. This vehement language was usual with the prophets. It is not to be imitated by those who have but an ordinary mission. "The Baptist expresses his surprise that persons ao, hardened have been at all moved. " Christ came to dispense blessings: but vengeance awaited those who refused His mercy. Digitized by Google $
 * The Orientals were wont to eat locusta, when dried with smoke and
 * Bees' honey abounded near Jericho. See Josephus de Bello 1. iv.
 * The Pharisees, whose name implies separation, affected the great-