Volume 2

166 Life of Jesus Christ
through which five pathways were cut. This region was
indeed much smaller, but richer in appearance than that
of Bethsaida at Jerusalem, which is here and there rendered
unsightly and impure by reeds and by the leaves
that fall into it from the surrounding trees. The baptismal
pool lay behind the hill, and about one hundred and fifty
feet beyond was the great pond in which were numbers of
fish. They seeIned to be crowding to the side at which
John was teaching, as if they wanted to hear. On the pond
were little skiffs, trunks of trees hollowed out, large
enough at most for two Olen only, with seats in the middle
for fishing. John ate only a little poor honey. When he
took food with his disciples, it was always in very small
quantities. He prayed alone, and spent much of the night
gazing up to Heaven.
John knew that the time of his arrest was near;
therefore had he spoken as if under inspiration and as if
taking leave of his auditors. He had announced Jesus
more clearly than ever. He WitS now coming, he said; consequently
he hinlself should retire and they should go to
Jesus. He, John, was soon to be apprehended. They were,
he continued addressing his audience, a hard and indocile
people. They should recall how he had come at first and
prepared the \vays for the Lord. He had built bridges,
made foot paths, cleared away stones, arranged baptismal
pools, and conducted thither the water. He had a difficult
task, struggling against stony earth, hard rocks, and knotty
wood. And these labors he had had to continue toward a
people stubborn, obdurate, and unpolished. But they
whom he had stirred up should now go to the Lord, to the
well-beloved Son of the Father. They whom He received
would be truly received; they whom He rejected should
indeed be rejected. He was coming now to teach, to baptize,
to perfect \vhat he himself had prepared. Then turning
toward Herod, John earnestly reproached him several
times before the people for his scandalous connection.