The morals of a tragedy.
Here we have a tragedy in which the principal actors are, on the one side Jesus and John the Baptist, and on the other Herod, Herodias, and Salome. We propose to bring out some of its lessons. Learn, then—
I. THAT THE HAUGHTIEST DESPOT IS HIMSELF RULED BY THE MEANEST THINGS.
1. What is meaner than vile passion?
2. What is meaner than the pander of vile passion?
II. THAT THE DIVERSIONS OF THE WORLD ARE COMMON OCCASIONS OF SIN.
1. Feasting.
"There cannot be a better glass, wherein to discern the face our hearts, than our pleasures; such as they are, such are we" (Bishop Hall; see Proverbs 10:23; Hosea 7:5).
2. Dancing.
3. Company.
III. THAT A PARTIAL SURRENDER TO TRUTH IS NO SECURITY AGAINST CORRUPTION.
1. Herod for some time spared John's life.
2. He even listened to John's sermons.
3. But he did not forsake all his sins.
IV. THAT THE WICKED HAVE TO DREAD RETRIBUTIVE RESURRECTIONS.
1. Crime distorts the conscience.
(a) Sorry at his banquet. Note: Sorrow accompanies the joys of earth.
(b) Sorry that he had pledged his oath to the damsel when he saw the consequence.
"How human passion contradicts itself! Now war is waged for an inch of land; now half a kingdom is sacrificed to the will of a young coquette!" (Quesnel).
2. Phantoms arise frown the distortion.