2under the high Priests Annas and Caiphas: the Word of our Lord was made upon John the sonne of Zacharie, in the desert. 3And Mt. 3, 1. Mr. 1, 1.* he came into al the countrie of Jordan, preaching the Baptisme of [1] pennance unto remission of sinnes; as it is written in the booke of the sayings of Esay the Prophet: 4Esa. 40, 3.A voice of one crying in the desert; prepare the way of our Lord, make straight his paths. 5Every valley shal be filled: and every mountaine and hil shal be made low, and crooked things shal become straight; and rough wayes, plaine: 6and al flesh shal see the SALVATION of God.
7He said therfore to the multitudes that went forth to be baptized of him: Mt. 3, 7.* Ye vipers broods, who hath shewed you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Yeald therfore [2] fruits worthie of penance; and doe ye not begin to say, we have Abraham, to our father. For I tel you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 9For now the axe is put to the roote of the trees. [3] Every tree therfore that yealdeth not good fruit, ′is′ shal be cut downe, and cast into fire. 10And the multitudes asked him, saying: What shal we doe then? 11And he answering, said unto them: [4] He that hath two coats, let him give to him that hath not; and he that hath meat, let him doe likewise. 12And the Publicans also came to be baptized, and said to him: Maister, what shal we doe? 13But he said to them: Doe nothing more then that which is appointed you. 14And the souldiars also asked him, saying: What shal we also doe? And he said to them: Vexe not, neither calumniate any man; and be content with your stipends.
15And [5] the People imagining, and al men thinking in their harts of John, lest perhaps he were Christ: 16John answered, saying unto al: Mt. 3, 11.
Mr. 1, 8.
Jo. 1, 26.
Act. 1, 5. 11, 16. 19, 4.* I indeed baptize you with water; [6] but there ′commeth′ shal come a mightier then I, whose latchet of his shoes I am not worthie to loose; he shal baptize you in the Holy Ghost and fire: 17whose fanne is in his hand, and he wil purge his floore; and wil gather the wheat into his barne, but the chaffe he wil burne with unquencheable fire.
18Many other things also exhorting did he evangelize to the People.
19 Mt. 14, 3.
Mar. 6, 17.* And Herod the Tetrarch, when he was rebuked of him for Herodias his ′brother Philips′ brothers wife, and for al the evils which Herod did: 20 ″ he added this also above al, and shut up John into prison. 21 Mt. 3, 13.
Mr. 1, 9.
Jo. 1, 32.* And it came to passe when al the People was baptized, Jesus also being baptized and praying, Heaven was opened: 22and the Holy Ghost descended in corporal shape as a dove upon him: and a voice from Heaven was made: Thou art my beloved Sonne, in thee I am wel pleased. 23And Jesus himself was beginning to be about thirtie yeares old: as it was thought, the sonne of Joseph, who was ″ of Heli, 24who was of Matthat, who was of Levi, who was of Melchi, who was of Janne, who was of Joseph, 25who was of Matthathias, who was of Amos, who was of Naum, who was of Hesli, who was of Nagge, 26who was of Mahath, who was of Matthathias, who was of Semei, who was of Joseph, who was of Juda, 27who was of Johanna, who was of Resa, who was of Zorobabel, who was of Salathiel, who was of Neri, 28who was of Melchi, who was of Addi, who was of Cosam,
- ↑ Pennance prepareth the way to Christ.
- ↑ Fruits of pennance be works satisfactorie.
- ↑ A man without good workes is unfruitful, and shal be cast into everlasting fire.
- ↑ Almes counseled or enjoyned for sinnes and to avoid damnation.
- ↑ John was so holy that many might by errour easily thinke he was Christ.
- ↑ How say then the Heretikes that the Baptisme of Christ is of no greater vertue then Johns?
