Verse 76

Verse 76. And thou child shalt be called the Prophet of the most High: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways.

Verse 76. And thou child shalt be called the Prophet of the most High: for thou shalt goe before the face of the Lord to prepare his wayes.

This shall be thy office: Thou shalt be the first, and shalt first begin: that is, thou shalt be the Prophet of the most High: But what manner of prophecy shall that be, how shall it be done: After this sort:¹ Thou shalt be the forerunner of the Lord, & shalt prepare his ways. When any Prince cometh, certain go before him, to prepare way and place for him, and say: Give place, depart out of the way: John doing the like, runneth before and crieth unto the people: Go aside, turn out of the way, give place, the Lord him self cometh. Such a servant is John, ⟨p. 65⟩whom the Lord by and by followeth. Such things no Prophet at any time hath spoken, but they have prophesied of these things, that a Prophet should sometime come, which should erect a kingdom that should continue for ever, &c. But all dyed, not one remained, which did behold this being alive. But this Prophet doth live even at that time, when the Lord him self cometh, and by and by followeth him. For the Gospel was begun to be preached, Baptism was begun to be ministered, by the coming and ministry of John, who ceasing, Christ began, both almost in the same year. Now what shall be his office? This truly,² to prepare a way for the Lord. Which preparation is nothing else, but to bring people to the Lord the Saviour. Christ is the grace, gift, King and horn of our salvation. This Lord and King no man receiveth, unless he be first humbled, that he think nothing of him self. For he can not otherwise attain unto Christ, neither can stand together, to receive the grace of God by gift, and also to merit the same. John therefore in this part teacheth men nothing else, but that they are sinners and altogether nothing. He now which acknowledgeth him self, and feeleth him self a sinner before, yea and to be nothing, well understandeth the voice of John, which is, prepare ye a way for the Lord: Give place to him: He is at hand that followeth me, who is greater then I, him ye shall hear, him ye shall obey. The other office of John which followeth, is, that he bringeth men to the knowledge of salvation, and showeth with his finger that paschal Lamb, that taketh away our sins, that he may fasten them to the cross with him self and abolish them. Whereof Zechariah now goeth on to speak.

This shall be thy office: Thou shalt be the first, and shalt first begin: that is, thou shalt be the Prophet of the most High: But what maner of prophecie shall that be, how shall it be done: After this sort:¹ Thou shalt be the forerunner of the Lorde, & shalt prepare his wayes. When any Prince commeth, certaine goe before him, to prepare way and place for him, and say: Giue place, depart out of the way: Iohn doing the like, runneth before and crieth vnto the people: Goe aside, turne out of the waye, giue place, the Lorde him selfe commeth. Such a seruaunt is Iohn, ⟨p. 65⟩whom the Lord by and by followeth. Such thinges no Prophet at any time hath spokē, but they haue prophesied of these things, that a Prophet should somtime come, which should erect a kingdom that should continue for euer, &c. But all dyed, not one remayned, which did behold this being aliue. But this Prophet doth liue euen at that tyme, when the Lord him selfe commeth, and by and by followeth him. For the Gospell was begon to be preached, Baptisme was begon to be ministred, by the comming and ministery of Iohn, who ceassing, Christ began, both almost in the same yeare. Now what shall be his office? This truely,² to prepare a way for the Lord. Which preparation is nothing else, but to bring people to ye Lorde the Sauiour. Christ is the grace, gift, King and horne of our saluation. This Lorde and King no man receiueth, vnles he be first humbled, that he thinke nothing of him self. For he can not otherwise attaine vnto Christ, neither can stand together, to receiue the grace of God by gift, and also to merit the same. Iohn therefore in this part teacheth men nothing else, but that they are sinners and altogether nothing. He now which acknowledgeth him selfe, and feeleth him selfe a sinner before, yea and to be nothing, well vnderstandeth the voice of Iohn, which is, prepare ye a way for the Lorde: Giue place to him: He is at hande that followeth me, who is greater then I, him ye shall heare, him ye shall obey. The other office of Iohn which followeth, is, that he bringeth men to the knowledge of saluation, and sheweth with his finger that pascall Lambe, that taketh away our sinnes, that he may fasten them to the crosse with him selfe and abolish them. Whereof Zacharias now goeth on to speake.

1. 1John the forerunner of Christ.Iohn the forerunner of Christ.
2. 2The office of John.The office of Iohn.