MATTHEW XI, 5—IT st them to our Lord, that they might consider Him Master and Lord; that therefore also our Lord, because He knew the purpose of him who sent them, did many signs before them for their confirmation. This, that 40 the poor the Gospel is preached , for He spoke about those that are involved in evil things, and were deprived of good things; for to those is announced the forgiveness of sins and resurrection from the dead, and the destruction of Death. And because the crowds who heard had fallen into doubt, as to how he who had preached Him turned and asked if He were superior to the works of John, our Lord healed their sick minds by this: What went ye out into the wilderness to see? a reed shaken with the wind ? what was your opinion at first about the man on whose account ye left the cities and went out into the wilderness ? was it to see a weak man, like a reed shaken by the wind, and bending to all sides, and easily changed in his opinion by those who met him, and at one time he called Him a Lamb, etc., and at another sent to Him, Art thou he that should come? for he is not thus; for our Lord was silent from revealing the reason of their embassy, as it was not the time to relate it. But this of rove than a prophet; he did not investigate about Me from afar, like those, but near at hand and in public. And He confirmed the word which was about him in the witness of Malachi the prophet: This is what is written about him, Behold, J send my Messenger before thy face, etc, Again in this that he was worthy that our Lord should be baptized by him. BOOK VIII. This, that there hath not arisen among those that are born of women a greater than John the Baptist, but he that is a little one in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he. Some say that the /ittle one was John the son of Zebedee ; others that it was Matthia who was instead of the Iscariot. Others say that it was Adam, who was less than the angels. Severus says that the Christ was that /ittle one that was greater in the kingdom than John; and he brings a testimony from Chrysostom, But all of them err from the truth. The Scriptures rather teach us of two births, one this from a woman, and the other that from the grave, and after it we walk in new life, this, of which Baptism is a type, for Baptism is even called the New Birth; and our Lord also testifies about this, Whosoever is not born of water, etc.; but now He says, that if John be compared to those born of women, it is seen that he is greater and higher than everyone; he only Ephr. Diat. (Mtes.) p10 £ 30b Mal. 3.1 Jobn 8.5