11.  John  learns  to  know  Him  whom  he  knew;  but  he
learns  in  Him  with  regard  to  what  he  did  not  know ;
with  regard  to  what  he  did  know,  he  does  not  learn.  And
what  did  he  know  ?  The  Lord.  What  did  he  not  know  %
That  the  power  of  the  Lord's  baptism  was  not  to  pass  from
the  Lord  to  any  man,  but  that  the  ministration  of  it  plainly
would  do  so ;  the  power  from  the  Lord  to  no  one,  the  minis-
tration both  to  good  and  bad.  Let  not  the  dove  shrink  from
the  ministration  of  the  bad,  but  have  regard  to  the  power  of
the  Lord.  What  injury  does  a  bad  servant  do  to  you  where
the  Lord  is  good  ?  What  impediment  can  the  malicious  herald
put  in  your  way  if  the  judge  is  well-disposed  ?  John  learned
by  means  of  the  dove  this.  What  is  it  that  he  learned  ?  Let
him  repeat  it  himself.  "  The  same  said  unto  me,"  saith  he,
"  Upon  whom  thou  shalt  see  the  Spirit  descending  as  a  dove,
and  abiding  on  Him,  this  is  He  which  baptizeth  with  the  Holy
Ghost."  Let  not  those  seducers  deceive  thee,  0  dove,  who
say,  We  baptize.  Acknowledge,  dove,  what  the  dove  has
taught :  "  This  is  He  which  baptizeth  with  the  Holy  Ghost."
By  means  of  the  dove  we  are  taught  that  this  is  He ;  and  dost
thou  think  that  thou  art  baptized  by  his  authority  by  whose
ministration  thou  art  baptized  %  If  thou  thinkest  this,  thou
art  not  as  yet  in  the  body  of  the  dove  ;  and  if  thou  art  not  in
the  body  of  the  dove,  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that  thou
hast  not  simplicity ;  for  by  means  of  the  dove,  simplicity  is
chiefly  designated.
