CHAP. III.
1 Iohn preacheth: his office: life, and Baptisme. 7 He reprehendeth the Pharises, 13 and baptizeth Christ in Iordane.
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1 In those daies came *Iohn the Baptist, preaching in the wildernesse of Iudea, [ * Marke 1. 4 luke 3.2. ]
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2 And saying, Repent yee: for the kingdome of heauen is at hand.
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3 For this is he that was spoken of by the Prophet Esaias, saying, *The voyce of one crying in the wildernes, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.[ *Esay 40. 3. marke 1. 3.]
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4 And the same Iohn had his raiment of camels haire, and a leatherne girdle about his loynes, and his meate was locusts and wilde hony.
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5 Then went out to him Hierusalem, and all Iudea, and all the region round about Iordane,
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6 And were baptized of him in Iordane, confessing their sinnes.
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7 ¶ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his Baptisme, he said vnto them, *O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? [ * 1.Cha.12. 34.]
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8 Bring forth therefore fruits ||meet for repentance. [ || Or, answerable to amendment of life.]
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9 And thinke not to say within your selues, *Wee haue Abraham to our father: For I say vnto you, that God is able of these stones to raise vp children vnto Abraham. [ *Iohn 18. 39. ]
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10 And now also the axe is layd vnto the root of the trees: *Therefore euery tree which bringeth not foorth good fruite, is hewen downe, and cast into the fire. [ *Chap.7. 19. ]
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11 I indeed baptize you with water vnto repentance: but he that commeth after mee, is mightier then I, whose shooes I am not worthy to beare, hee shall baptize you with the holy Ghost, and with fire. [ Mark.1.8. iohn 1. 26. luke 3. 16. ]
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12 Whose fanne is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floore, and gather his wheat into the garner: but wil burne vp the chaffe with vnquenchable fire.
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13 ¶ *Then commeth Iesus from Galilee to Iordane, vnto Iohn, to be baptized of him: [ * Mark. 1.9. luke 3.21.]
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14 But Iohn forbade him, saying, I haue need to bee baptized of thee, and commest thou to me?
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15 And Iesus answering, said vnto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becommeth vs to fulfill all righteousnesse. Then he suffered him.
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16 And Iesus, when hee was baptized, went vp straightway out of the water: and loe, the heauens were opened vnto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a doue, and lighting vpon him.
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17 And loe, a voice from heauen, saying, This is my beloued Sonne, in whom I am well pleased.
