blessing to the Gentiles filled them "with wrath." They rushed Him out of the city to cast Him over the cliff (Ac. 7:54, 57-59). 5. Jesus' departure. Miraculously ^"passing through the midst of them" (Gen. 19:10, 11; Jdg. 15:14; 1 Kgs. 13:4; 2 Kgs. 6:18, 19; Jno. 8:59; 18: 5-7; 11:8, 9; 10:17, 18) "went His way," and left them to go theirs, and wh at could be worse for sinners? A GLORIOUS MARTYR: AN INGLO- RIOUS KING Lesson IX. Mark 6:14-29. September 1st. I. PERSONNEL. 1. John. (1) Parentage, Lk. 1:5, 6. (2) Character, Mat. 11:7-9. (3) His unworldliness, Lk. 1:80; Mk. 1:6. (4) Temperance, Lk. 1:5; Eph. 5:18. (5) Faithfulness, Lk. 1:7-14. 2. Herod Antipas. Son of Herod the Great, usurper, tyrant, murderer (Mat. 2:16). Antipas, wanting his father's greatness in worldliness, lacked none of his meanness in wickedness. He ruled Galilee and Perea, as tetrarch, or governor of one-fourth of what had been his father's kingdom. His wife was daughter of Aretas, king of an ad- joining realm. Herod, while guest of his brother Philip, induced Herodias, Philip's wife, and niece of both, to elope with him. His wife fled to Are- tas, her father, who afterward made war on Herod and nearly ruined him. 3. Herodias. Granddaughter of Herod the Great, niece and paramour of Herod Antipas; a descendant of the noble family of the Maccabees. Haughty, adulterous, incestous, shame- less, vengeful, savage. She was the un- intentional occasion of Herod's exile and died with him in it. 4. Salome. Daughter of Herodias and Philip. Her name and infamous history are given by Josephus, harmon- izing with the gospels. 5. An executioner, disciples of John, and the Lord Jesus. II. JOHN'S FAITHFUL MINISTRY. 1. John feared only "the King eter- nal, immortal, invisible." Kings, Sa- duccees, Pharisees, soldiers, publicans, peasants, were alike to him, the servant of Him who respects not persons (Lk. 3:7-14; Mt. 3:7; Mk. 6:18). A leath- ern coat and girdle suffioed for cloth- ing; wild fare of the desert for food; a cleft in a rock for shelter. He was in- dependent of royal patronage or public favor. And strong to rebuke the evils,
public and private of his time. He therefore "reproved kings," rebuking Herod for his adultery. So did the prophets: Moses (Ex. 7 : 1 0 ); Nathan (2 Sam. 1 2 : 7 ); the "man of God?' (1 Kgs. 13:1-4); Elijah (1 Kgs. 18:17, 18); Micaiah (1 Kgs. 22:27, 28 ); Isa- iah (2 Kgs. 20:17, 18); Daniel (Dan. 4:27; 5:22-28); Paul (Ac. 2 4 : 2 5 ). Glorious company of the prophets ! Their's the bluest blood and brightest crowns. Hugh Latimer (sixteenth cen- tury), having reproved the sins of the court of England, was warned to be- ware of repeating the offense. Preach- ing again, he began like this: "Hugh Latimer, bethink thee before what high majesty thou art speaking and beware. But, Hugh Latimer, remember you must render your account to the High Majesty of heaven, and deliver the message of the King of kings faithfully." Latimer was later burned at the stake. III. Herod's Response. 1. He "feared." So Felix when Paul reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come" (Ac. 24:25). Herod "knew" John was " j u s t" and "right." Sinners feel that the preacher is right. Conscience responds, and they tremble in the pew, while the preacher in the pulpit thinks his word has no effect. 2. "Did many things." Herod put on the brakes but his car rushed on to destruction. God accepts no half way repentance. Herod held to his darling sin; did not put away Herodias, and she became his ruin for this world and the next. 3. He "observed" (protected) John. Herodias plotted against John's life. Herod shielded him. Had he repudiated instead .of restrained her, he might have been saved. Sin restrained merely will triumph finally. She prevailed and Herod, later, threw his faithful friend into a dismal dungeon (Gen. 39:20; Jdg. 16:21; 1 Kgs. 22:27; Jer. 32:2; Ac. 5:21; 16:23, 24; 28:16; Rev. 1 : 9 ). III. MURDER AND MARTYRDOM. 1. Herod gaily celebrated his birth- day. John languished in the prison, he heartlessly feasted in the palace. A royal feast in those Roman days was a scene as debaunching as it was splendid. Herodias' "convenient day" had come. She set her trap, and sprung it at the psychologic moment, by crowning the sensations of the revel with a dance by Salome, her beautiful and shameless daughter, in gauzy drapery and lasciv- ious motions. Herod flushed with wine and passion surrendered utterly, and
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