July 4

1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and of the region of Trachonets, and Lysantas the tetrarch of Abilene.

2 Annas and Calaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;

4 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight!

5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;

6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

7 Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

8 Bring forth therefore fruit's worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham

9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which beingeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?

11 He answereth and saith unto them, He

that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise

12 Then came also publicars to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?

13 And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.

14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.

15 And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;

16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the lachet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.

17 Whose fair is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner, but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable

18 And many other things in his exhortation preached be unto the people.

19 But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,

20 Added ye: this above all, that he shut up John in prison.

21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,

22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

"And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?" John's answer is significant (verses 11-14).

"Our worldly occupations and our religious life are only two names for one thing. They are parts of our life, and never should be separated. Our daily business should be a part of our daily religion, and our daily religion should also be a part of our daily business. We never should antagonize them in our thoughts. The spiritual element is to the practical what the dew, and rain, and sunlight are to the growing field of corn. In the closet we cleanse and inspire the soul, but in our business we use that strength which we have gained by this inspiring and cleansing. Our whole life is a religious life."—H. W. Beecher.

Though none were worthy to stoop down and unloose the lachets of the shoes of Christ, yet He stooped down and loosed the latchlets of the shoes of humanity. He took upon Himself the form of a servant, and came, not to be ministered unto, but to minister.

Closet Promise.—He that believeth shall not make haste.—Isaiah xxviii. 16.

A prayer by Jeremy Taylor: "Bless me, gracious God, in my calling, to such purposes as Thou shalt choose for me, or employ me in, relieve me in all my sadnesses; make my bed in my sickness; give me patience in my sorrows, confidence in Thee, and grace to call upon Thee in all temptations. Oh, be Thou my guide in all my actions; my protector in all dangers; give me a healthful body and a clear understanding; a sanctified and just, a charitable and humble, a religious and contented spirit; let not my life be miserable and wretched; nor my name stained with sin and shame; nor my condition lifted up to a tempting and dangerous fortune; but let my condition be blessed, my conversation useful to my neighbors, and pleasing to Thee; that, when my body shall lie down in its bed of darkness, my soul may pass into the regions of light, and live with Thee for ever, through Jesus Christ. Amen."