John, and confessed that he was not Christ.

Now here is to be noted the great and prudent answer of St. John Baptist
unto the Pharisees, that when they required of him who he was, he would
not directly answer of himself what he was himself, but he said he was
not Christ: by the which saying he thought to put the Jews and Pharisees
out of their false opinion and belief towards him, in that they would
have had him to exercise the office of Christ; and so declared further
unto them of Christ, saying, "He is in the midst of you and amongst you,
whom ye know not, whose latchet of his shoe I am not worthy to unloose,
or undo." By this you may perceive that St. John spake much in the laud
and praise of Christ his Master, professing himself to be in no wise like
unto him. So likewise it shall be necessary unto all men and women of
this world, not to ascribe unto themselves any goodness of themselves,
but all unto our Lord God, as shall appear hereafter, when this question
aforesaid, "Who art thou?" shall be moved unto them: not as the Pharisees
did unto St. John, of an evil purpose, but of a good and simple mind, as
may appear hereafter.

Now then, according to the preacher's mind, let every man and woman, of a
good and simple mind, contrary to the Pharisees' intent, ask this
question, "Who art thou?" This question must be moved to themselves,
what they be of themselves, on this fashion: "What art thou of thy only
and natural generation between father and mother, when thou camest into
this world? What substance, what virtue, what goodness art thou of, by
thyself?" Which question if thou rehearse oftentimes unto thyself, thou
shalt well perceive and understand how thou shalt make answer unto it;
which must be made on this wise: I am of myself, and by myself, coming
from my natural father and mother, the child of the ire and indignation
of God, the true inheritor of hell, a lump of sin, and working nothing of