CHAPTER THE TENTH. 66 66 1. A ST. JOHN, CHAP. VI. FTER these things, Jefus went over the fea of Galilee, which " is the fea of Tiberias. 66 2. And a great multitude followed "him; because they faw his miracles "which he did on them that were dif "eased." Any uncommon character neceffarily attracts attention: when, therefore, our bleffed Saviour appeared, and not only did wonderful works, but made them all fubfervient to the relief and benefit of mankind, he would of courfe have a great number of followers: for when interest is joined to curiofity, they will furmount all difficulties. 66 66 3. And Jefus went up into a mountain, and there he fat with his disciples. 4. And the Paffover, a feaft of the Jews, was nigh. "5. When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and faw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence "shall we buy bread, that these may eat? "6. (And this he faid to prove him: " for he himself knew what he would do.)" The other three Evangelifts mention the difciples coming to our Lord, to beg he would fend the multitude away. How astonished, then, must they have been, when he said, Give ye them to eat." Yet why should he, who cured all manner of disorders, be fuppofed to want the power to feed those he had fo miraculously restored to health? But the difciples were still wavering in their faith. "7. Philip "7. Philip answered him, Two hun"dred penny-worth of bread is not suf"ficient for them, that every one of them take a little. 66 may "8. One of his difciples, Andrew, Si"mon-Peter's brother, faith unto him, 66 "9. There is a lad here, which hath "five barley loaves, and two fmall fishes: "but what are they among so many? 66 10. And Jefus faid, Make the men fit "down. Now there was much grass in "the place. So the men fat down, in "number about five thousand. 66 11. And Jesus took the loaves; and "when he had given thanks, he distri "buted to the difciples, and the disciples "to them that were fet down; and like"wife of the fishes as much as they " would." Here let me call your attention to the conduct of our Lord, in a point which, I am afraid, is too frequently neglected. Although exercising the power of his godhead, in creating food, yet would he not omit the duty which, in his human nature, he owed to God the Father for the bleffing. The Son of God defcended from Heaven, to be our pattern, as well as our faviour. Can any Christian, then, hope to be excused, who prefumes to fit down to table without begging a blessing upon the provifion which the Almighty bestows upon him? Nothing is more defervingly held in abhorrence, than ingratitude: and fhall we not thankfully acknowledge our conftant obligations to our kind and generous Benefactor? But there are ftill further advantages attending our begging God's bleffing upon the good things he has been pleased to provide for us: we all know that intemperance will convert the most wholesome nourishment, either of eating or drinking, into poifon; and nothing is more likely to check our inordinate appetites, and to make us moderate in the use of God's bleffings, than the pious recollection and acknowledgment, that to him we are indebted for them. The The miracle of multiplying food, was not, in reality, more wonderful than the manner in which God daily fupplies us: millions are conftantly fed, in a way no lefs miraculous; but as this happens regularly, it does not make the fame awful impreffion upon our minds. What can be more wonderful than the production of grain? The Almighty, who has been pleafed to feed us by the growth of corn, and the production of animals, might equally have fupported us without our own labor; but here we have a fresh inftance of eternal wifdom, for making the induflry of man neceffary in fupplying him with the requifites of life: for much of wickedness as we now fee in the world, how greatly would it be increased if every thing were provided for us without any exertions of our own; industry being (as Stanhope very juftly observes in his comment upon this miracle) a great check to vice. 12. When |