Life in the Word 177 not stricken down for persecuting the Church, for imprisoning. Peter, or for putting James to death, nor yet for his previous murder of John the Baptist. He was smitten for permitting his word to be acclaimed as the Word of God. Herod had often heard the Word of the Lord, for he had listened atten tively to the preaching of the Baptist. He had heard of the ministry and miracles of the Lord Jesus,: and had even seen Him on that dark betrayal night. He was, therefore, not smit ten for something done in ignorance. The angel of Jehovah had two ministries in that chapter. One was to deliver Peter, who, according to the word of his Lord, was to serve Him to old age (John 21:18). The other was to declare, by smiting the King, the difference between the Word of God and that of the most important man of the country. Doubtless that was a great oration which Herod delivered on that day. It contained most probably striking utterances, pregnant with wisdom and garbed in the attractions of human eloquence. It was, moreover, the King on his throne who spoke, and we know how the throngs gather to listen on such occasions,.. On the-other hand, and in striking contrast, the Word of God was in the charge of “unlearned and ignorant men,” a despised and persecuted company, whose Leader had but just Suffered the ignominious death of a malefactor. What then has become of the words of King Herod?- All have utterly perished, centuries ago, from the memory :?of men. He him self was eaten of worms; “But the Word of God grew and multipled,’’' and has continued so to do from that time to the present. Not very long ago, at the convening of the American Con gress, a message from the President was addressed to that body. . Much comment was made on that message because of its great length. Some industrious person counted the words, and found them to be upwards of thirty thousand. They
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