which came from His lips. The night was closing in upon them, and many of the people having come from a great distance, were beginning to want support: when Jesus, who had been feeding their souls with the words of eternal life, shewed that even the bodies of His servants are not beneath His care, for He fed them there in the wilderness: having, by a power which none but God could employ, made out of five small loaves and two fishes, food enough (and a great deal to spare) for five thousand men, besides women and children.

After He had given this great proof both of His power and His goodness, He desired His disciples to get into the ship, and return before Him across the sea, whilst He sent the people away. And when He had sent them away, He went up into a mountain, apart by Himself, to pray to His Father in heaven: setting us, in this, an example which, it is to be feared, many do not attend to as often and as earnestly as they should. Yet if the blessed Son of God, who was Himself

equal with God, considered it necessary to Him to pray for His grace, blessing, and assistance, how much more ought we to consider it so, we, who are but dust and ashes, who have no power to help ourselves, are by nature inclined to evil, and open every day to temptations!

Whilst our Saviour was thus employing the time, praying in secret to His God, (praying perhaps for His disciples whom He had sent away, and for the multitudes of people whom He had that day instructed and fed; perhaps for us and all mankind who should believe in His name in after ages of the world) the ship which contained His chosen servants was now in the midst of the sea, tossed by waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night (that is, between the hours of three and six in the morning, for the night was divided into four watches of three hours each the first began at six in the evening and ended at nine, the second began at nine and ended at midnight, the third began at midnight and ended at three in the morning, and the fourth began at

three in the morning and ended at six); in the fourth watch, then, in the dusk of the morning, Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit. And they cried out with fear. And straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer, it is I, be not afraid. And Peter, who appears upon all occasions, but that unhappy one when he denied his master, to have possessed a stronger faith, and greater courage, than the rest of the disciples, answered Him, and said, Lord, if it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the water. And He said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, stormy and rough, he was afraid and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped Him, saying, Of a truth, Thou art the Son of God.

It

I have thus given you the account of this wonderful history, as it is related to us in the gospel according to St. Matthew. You have, without doubt, often read this, and been filled with astonishment at the great power of Him who could walk Himself upon the face of the waters, and make a poor sinner able to do the same. is wonderful indeed: and what is not wonderful that concerns God? Every thing is wonderful; the water, the wind, is wonderful we cannot give any account of them, though we see and feel them; and if it is astonishing that the Son of God could walk upon the sea, it is not more astonishing than that He should have made it. I say not this, God forbid, to lessen or take from the wonder which you must feel, when you read in the gospel the mighty things which Jesus did the more you wonder, the more, I hope, you will reverence and love your Saviour, who, notwithstanding all His greatness, and all His glory, condescended to be what He was, to do what He did, and suffer what He suffered, for the sake of your souls: but

it is not to be supposed that any part of the holy gospel was written or intended only to awaken our wonder: there is, as I before observed, instruction to be found in every part of it, and, as it is possible that some of you may have read this history, of which we have been speaking, without finding that it teaches any thing, I shall endeavour plainly and shortly to set before you the instruction and the comfort which it appears to contain.

In the first place, we must bear in mind that what I have just been reading, took place between Christ and His disciples, that is, between the Saviour of the world and sinners: now we ourselves are sinners, and we pretend at least (God grant we may be found so in the last day!) to be disciples and followers of Jesus Christ; to look up to Him as our only Saviour and Friend, and to put our whole trust and hope of forgiveness in His precious death upon the cross, and in His great pity, mercy, and goodness; therefore whatever took place between Jesus and His disciples when He was here on earth, we may be sure was