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SECTION XXXIV.

MATTHEW XIV. 24-36.-MARK VI. 47-56.

JOHN VI. 16-21.

AND when the evening was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea, and entered into a ship, and went over the sea towards Capernaum: and it was now dark, and the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land, and was not come to them: and the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew. And he saw them toiling in rowing: for the wind was contrary unto them, and the ship was tossed with waves. And about the fourth watch of the night Jesus cometh unto them, when they had rowed about five-and-twenty or thirty furlongs, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship, they supposed it had been a spirit; and cried out for fear. (For they all saw him and were troubled.) And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come to 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, 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? Then they willingly received him into the ship. And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased, and immediately the ship was at the land, whither they went. Then they that were in the ship were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered; for they considered not the miracle of the loaves, for their heart was hardened. And they came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth

thou art the Son of God. And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret; and drew to the shore. And when they were come out of the ship, the men of that place had straightway knowledge of him, and they sent out into all the country round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was, and brought unto him all that were diseased.

And whithersoever he entered into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made perfectly whole.

Thus it still pleases Christ to exercise the faith of his people, that he may strengthen their dependance on him, and demonstrate at once his compassion and his power. Thus are storms permitted oftentimes to rise around them, and for a while they are left in darkness, and are tossed with tempests: but he is near at hand, even when they think him at the remotest distance; and when he seems to be passing by them, as regardless of their danger and distress, he has designs of grace and mercy to them, and acts in such a way on purpose to quicken and excite them to a greater earnestness and fervour in their application to him. Happy would the Christian be, could he always discern his Lord and always conceive of him aright! but alas, how often does he appear to the disordered mind as the object of terror rather than of confidence! and, in a day of darkness, while he may seem to treat his suffering people with neglect, instead of seeking him with a more earnest importunity, how ready are they to be overwhelmed with fears, and to conclude he has forgotten them!

sea.

At the command of Jesus, Peter ventured to go to him on the And through what storms and dangers may we not safely venture, if we are sure that our Lord calls us ! Yet the rebuke which he suffered, may warn us not rashly to throw ourselves on unnecessary trials, lest our excess of confidence end in fear and disgrace. Modesty and caution will adorn our other virtues, and render us amiable in the eyes of the humble Jesus.

In how many circumstances of life does the Christian appear to his own imagination like Peter beginning to sink in the waves! But in the time of our distress, like him, let us cry to Jesus for help; and, while we are lifting up the hands of faith and prayer, we may humbly hope that Christ will stretch forth

his omnipotent arm for our rescue. Let every experience of this kind, and all the seasonable aid he is from time to time imparting to us, establish our dependance on him, and enforce our obedience to him, as the Son of God. May Divine Grace deliver us from that hardness of heart, that stupidity and insensibility of mind, which sometimes remains unconvinced in the midst of evidence, and unaffected under the most moving illustrations of his abilities and willingness to help us!

SECTION XXXV.

JOHN VI. 22-40.

THE day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone: (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks :) When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus. And when they found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither? Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. Then they said unto him, What shall we do that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. They said therefore unto him, What sign showest thou then, that we may see and believe thee? What dost thou work? Our Fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread

from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life; he that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one that seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

How gratefully should we acknowledge the Divine goodness, in giving this true bread from heaven for the life of the world; and how solicitous should we be, that by a true faith we may feed upon it! In the midst of so many ensnaring circumstances, let us be strictly watchful over ourselves, that the vigour of our pursuits and labours may not be laid out on the meat which perishes, to the forgetfulness of that which endures to eternal life; but acknowledging those authentic seals, by which Christ is marked out to that important trust, may we apply to him as sent of God the Father to be the Author of eternal salvation, and come to him to be partakers of his saving benefits!

It must surely grieve us to observe the neglect and contempt with which he is too frequently treated; but it may comfort us that there yet remains a remnant according to the election of grace, (Rom. xi. 5.) All that the Father giveth him, will come to him; and blessed be God, that this appears to be no inconsiderable number. Secret things belong to the Lord our God, (Deut. xxix. 29.) let it therefore be our care to make first our calling, and then, by a happy consequence, our election sure, (2 Pet. i. 10.) Whatever discouragements may arise in our way, may we fly to cast ourselves at the foot of Christ; and then we may be sure that he will never on any consideration cast us out, but will receive us in the arms

of his almighty compassion, and, having sheltered and maintained us in his house on earth, will at length conduct us safely to the presence of his glory and to the blessed abodes of complete felicity.

SECTION XXXVI.

JOHN VI. 41-58.

THE Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father cometh unto me. Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

The Jews therefore strove amongst themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my od. dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the liv

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