Part 16 (1/2)

”As John the Baptist says, 'For G.o.d is able from these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.'” (iv. 7, 2.)

There are no less than six quotations or references to the ninth and tenth verses of this chapter, viz., iv. 24, 2; v. 34, 1; iv. 8, 3; iv.

36, 4; v. 17, 4.

”Now who this Lord is that brings such a day about, John the Baptist points out when he says of Christ, 'He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire, having His fan in His hand,'” &c. (iv. 4, 3.)

”Having a fan in His hands, and cleansing His floor, and gathering the wheat,'” &c. (iv. 33, 1.)

”Who gathers the wheat into His barn, but will burn up the chaff with fire unquenchable.” (iv. 33, ll.)

”Then, speaking of His baptism, Matthew says, 'The heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of G.o.d,'” &c. (iii. 9, 3.)

Mark, i.

”Wherefore Mark also says, 'The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of G.o.d, as it is written in the prophets.'” (iii. 16, 3.)

”Yea, even the demons exclaimed, on beholding the Son, 'We know Thee who Thou art, the Holy One of G.o.d.'” (iv. 6, 6.)

Mark iv. 28.

”His Word, through whom the wood fructifies, and the fountains gush forth, and the earth gives 'first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear.'” (iv. 18, 4.)

Luke, i.

”Thus also does Luke, without respect of persons, deliver to us what he had learned from them, as he has himself testified, saying, 'Even as they delivered them unto us, who from the beginning were eye-witnesses and ministers of the Word.'” (iii. 14, 2.)

Another reference to same in preface to Book iv.

”Luke, also, the follower and disciple of the Apostles, referring to Zacharias and Elizabeth, from whom, according to promise, John was born, says, 'And they were both righteous before G.o.d, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless,'”, &c. (iii.

10, 1.)

”And again, speaking of Zacharias, 'And it came to pa.s.s, that while he executed the priest's office,'” &c. (_Ibid._)

”And then, speaking of John, he (the angel) says: 'For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord,'” &c. (_Ibid._)

”In the spirit and power of Elias.” (iii. 10, 6.)

”Truly it was by Him of whom Gabriel was the angel who also announced the glad tidings of His birth ... in the spirit and power of Elias.” (iii. 11, 4.)

”But at that time the angel Gabriel was sent from G.o.d, who did also say to the Virgin, 'Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favour with G.o.d.'” (iii. 10, 2.)

”He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest,” &c.

(iii. 10, 2.)

”And Mary, exulting because of this, cried out; prophesying on behalf of the Church, 'My soul doth magnify the Lord.'” (iii. 10, 2.)

”And that the angel Gabriel said unto her, 'The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee,'” &c. (iii. 21, 4.)

”In accordance with this design Mary the Virgin is found obedient, saying, 'Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to Thy word.'” (iii. 22, 4.)