"He shall deal with the people as the farmer deals with his grain on the threshing floor. He will sweep the floor most carefully; the wheat he will put in his barn and the chaff he will burn up with a fire that cannot be put out." The people came to John and said to him: "What shall we do to make ready for the coming of this Great King?" John answered them: "Let everyone do what he can to help those who are in need. If any of you have two coats, give one of them to some poor man that has no garments; and those of you who have wheat and barley, give to those who are hungry something to eat." Some of the men who gathered the taxes from the people for the Roman rulers came to John and said: "What would you have us do to make ready for the coming of the King? Shall we tell the people that they are to pay no more taxes?" "No," answered John. "Let the people pay their taxes as before; but see that you do not make them pay more than is right, and do not rob them." For many of these tax-collectors (who were called publicans) took from the people more than they had a right to take, and used the people's money for themselves. They made themselves rich by robbing the people. Everywhere the people hated these tax-collectors, and called them "sinners." The soldiers and policemen came to John and said, "And what shall we do?" John said to them: "Do not be harsh and rough with the people. Treat everyone kindly. Be contented with your pay, and do not make the people give you money that you have no right to ask." These were some of the many things that John said to the people. All his words came to this: "If you are doing wrong, stop it and begin to do right. Do not be selfish, but love your fellow men and do good to them. And be ready when the King comes to obey him." John was called "John the Baptist" because he baptized in the river Jordan all those who promised to follow his teachings. The leaders of the people in Jerusalem did not believe the words of John and were not baptized by him. They did not know exactly what to think of him, and they sent some priests and others to see him. These men came and asked him: "Who are you? Are you the Christ, the promised King?" "No," answered John, "I am not the Christ." "What then?" said they. "Are you Elijah the prophet come to earth again, as some people say you are?" "No," answered John again, "I am not Elijah." "Well, then," they said, "tell us who you are, so that we can give an answer to the rulers who have sent us." And John said: "In the book of the prophet Isaiah it is written, 'The Voice of him that cries in the desert: prepare ye the way of the Lord, make a straight path before him.' I am that voice to speak to the people and make them ready for the King, who is even now among you, although you do not know him, and who will soon make himself known." The Carpenter Leaves His Shop CHAPTER 15