Mace(i)
2 in the mean time John having heard in his confinement of the actions of Christ, he sent two of his disciples to ask him,
3 art thou he that was to come, or must we expect another?
4 Jesus answered them, go and relate to John, what you hear and what you see:
5 the blind recover their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
6 and happy is he who does not stumble at my appearance.
7 As they departed, Jesus said to the people, speaking of John, what did ye go to see in the desert? a reed shaken with the wind?
8 what did ye go to see? a man dress'd in rich apparel? why, they that are so array'd belong to the court:
9 or did you go to see a prophet? yes, and be assured, one superiour to a prophet.
10 for it is he that is meant in that passage, "behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee."
11 I declare unto you, among the whole race of prophets, there never appear'd a greater than John the Baptist: (notwithstanding, he that is least in the kingdom of the
12 Messiah is greater than he.) for ever since the appearance of John the Baptist the gospel kingdom is as it were invaded, and people of the most violent passions enter into it with zeal.
13 for all the prophets and the law were your guides, till the coming of John.
14 and if ye will believe me, he is the Elias that was to come.
15 he that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
16 but to what shall I compare this generation? they are like children sitting in the markets, and calling out to their fellows,
17 "if we play a merry tune, you are not for dancing; if we act a mournful part, you are not in the humour."
18 so John came with fasting and abstinence, and they say, he is mad.