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THE K I N G ’ S BUSINESS fairly be regarded as the clasp of the two Testaments.—Reynolds. v. 14. If ye will receive it. The “ if” does not indicate any uncertainty as to John being.the promised Elijah, but indicates uncertainty as to .whether those addressed would receive what was being witnessed to them. He says in effect, “ If ye will receive the testi mony given you, well and good, but in any case this is the Elijah which was to come.” See Matt. 17:9-13. “ Elias is come.” But it may be objected John himself when asked, “ Art thou Elias?” answered, “ I am not.” It may be that John did not know that he was the ful- filler of Malachi’s prophecy. The Lord after John’s ministry was completed and John was in prison, declared him to be the fulfiller of Malachi’s prophecy. vj^Mauro. The present unhappy circum stances in which John was placed, seemed inconsistent with such a view of his mission..—Meyer. This is Elias. John was the personal duplicate of Eli jah. There was in him the reproduc tion of the spirit and power of thd Old Testament prophet.—Morrison. v. 15. Let him hear. As much as to say, “ Listen.” It is sad to think what is lost by inattention, sadder still to think of the trouble we bring upon ourselves afterwards. We may miss what we can never regain>—Foxell. v. 16. Whereunto shall I liken? Men will find fault with Christ and Christianity, put the matter how you will.—-Fraser. Children in 'the mar kets. Jesus noticed that among chil dren playing in the marketplace were some who" were sulky. They would play neither for people to dance nor mourn. These cross children were good at one thing— finding fault. In v. 18, 19, He tells them why He com pares them to cross children. Neither the stern John nor the gentle Jesus pleased them. They found fault with God’s servant and with God’s Son.—- Harris.
v. 17. Dance——lament. “ Ye did not leap— did not weep,” a common cus tom to this day, such response on the part of an audience being greatly ap preciated.— Comp. Bible. i v. 19. Wisdom is justified. God re garded as the All-wise. Justified— ac quitted of folly. The spiritual recog nize the wisdom of God both in the aus terity of John and the loving mercy of Jesus.—Horn. Com. The Kind Deeds of Jesus. Matt. 11:1-6, 16-19, 25-30. Matt. 12:9-14. Memory Verse.——“ Jesus went about doing good.” Acts 10:38. Approach.;—Once upon a time there was a little boy who longed to be given something to do in the palace of the king of the country. Rudolph lived in the forest, but some- BEGINNERS times he went to the AND PRIMARY village not far from Mabel L. Merrill the king’s palace. Rudolph’s father had heard much of the king’s kindness and he told his son these pleasant stories. At last there came a chance for Ru dolph. The king was passing the for est, and needed a boy to run an er rand for him. Rudolph offered so quickly and politely and gladly, that when the king wished to have another little boy to stay near and be ready for service at all times, this boy was called. How happy he was. How he loved the king. He saw kind deeds done and heard pleasant words spoken, and the boy’s heart ran. over with love for the good king. “ I wish I could do some thing worth while for him,” he said one time to his father. “ Be the best little boy that ever was, and do every thing for love of the king, not to be praised or rewarded,” said father. Ru dolph soon found that loving and do ing go together. Love taught him how to find things to do and to do them in the best way, till joy filled his Heart. — Primary Teacher.
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