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Articles_of_he_Bishop_of_Uramiah, page : 345
that the Baptist said he was not a Prophet; whereas Jesus
is reported to have said that "no men born of women were
ever greater than John" (Matt. xi). Did Jesus really make
such a declaration? Was John the Baptist greater than
Abraham, Moses, David, and Jesus himself? And in what
did his superiority and greatness consist? If this testimony
of Jesus about the son of Zachariah be authentic and true,
then the greatness of the "Eater of the Locusts in the wilder-
ness" can only consist in his absolute abnegation, self-denial,
and refraining from the world with all its luxuries and plea-
sures; his ardent wish to invite the people to penance; and
his good tidings about "that Prophet."
Or did his greatness consist - as the Churches will have
it - in being a cousin, contemporary and witness of Jesus?
The value and greatness of a man, as well as of a Prophet,
is reported to have said that "no men born of women were
ever greater than John" (Matt. xi). Did Jesus really make
such a declaration? Was John the Baptist greater than
Abraham, Moses, David, and Jesus himself? And in what
did his superiority and greatness consist? If this testimony
of Jesus about the son of Zachariah be authentic and true,
then the greatness of the "Eater of the Locusts in the wilder-
ness" can only consist in his absolute abnegation, self-denial,
and refraining from the world with all its luxuries and plea-
sures; his ardent wish to invite the people to penance; and
his good tidings about "that Prophet."
Or did his greatness consist - as the Churches will have
it - in being a cousin, contemporary and witness of Jesus?
The value and greatness of a man, as well as of a Prophet,