Life and Mission of John
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loved them, and given them especial promises. These promises and
blessings were always upon condition of obedience upon their part.
The Lord pronounced, by the mouth of Moses, blessings upon the
obedient, and curses upon the disobedient. “Ye shall make you no
idols,” was the command of God. “Ye shall keep my Sabbaths, and
reverence my sanctuary. I am the Lord. If ye walk in my statutes, and
keep my commandments, and do them; then I will give you rain in
due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the
field shall yield their fruit.” Many and great blessings are enumerated,
which God would bestow; and then, above all the other blessings, he
promised, “I will set my tabernacle among you; and my soul shall not
abhor you. And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and
ye shall be my people.” “But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will
not do all these commandments; and if ye shall despise my statutes,
or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my
commandments, but that ye break my covenant, I also will do this unto
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you: I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning
ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart; and ye
shall sow your seed in vain; for your enemies shall eat it. And I will
set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies.
They that hate you shall reign over you, and ye shall flee when none
pursueth you.”
The Jews were experiencing the fulfillment of the threatened curse
of God for their departure from him, and for their iniquity; yet they
did not lay these things to heart, and afflict their souls before God. A
people that hated them ruled over them. They were claiming the bless-
ings God had promised to confer upon them should they be obedient
and faithful. But at the very time they were suffering under the curse
of God because of disobedience. John declared to them that unless
they bore fruit, they would be hewn down and cast into the fire.
He specified the fruit they were required to bear in order to become
the subjects of Christ’s kingdom; which were works of love, mercy,
and benevolence. They must have virtuous characters. These fruits
would be the result of genuine repentance and faith. If blessed with
plenty, and they saw others destitute, they should divide with them.
They must be workers. “He that hath two coats, let him impart to
him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. Then
came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what