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DISCOURSE XI.

SAINT JOHN, vi. 11.

AND JESUS TOOK THE LOAVES; AND WHEN HE HAD GIVEN THANKS, HE DISTRIBUTED to the disciples, AND THE DISCIPLES TO THEM THAT were set dOWN; AND LIKEWISE OF The fishes AS MUCH AS THEY WOULD.

In the chapter from whence the text is taken, we read the Gospel narrative of our Lord's feeding five thousand persons, with five barley loaves, and two small fishes.

The account of this miracle, as collected from the four Gospels, for it is related in them all, is to this effect:

The crowds that were continually coming to hear our blessed Lord's discourses, and to be healed of their diseases, were so great, that He and his disciples had not leisure to refresh themselves, with their short and plain meals. He therefore took them with him, across the sea of Galilee, into a solitary place, in the territory of Bethsaida, for a little repose and retirement.

But the people, having discovered whither he was gone, pursued him out of all the cities around, and again flocked about him. He, seeing their eagerness to attend him, graciously received them, and returned to his usual labour of instructing and healing them. But the place being at a distance from any town or village, and the day beginning to wear away, the disciples reminded him of dismissing the multitude, that they might have time to go and provide themselves food, before night overtook them. Upon which, our Lord, to make trial of the faith of the disciples, bid them entertain the multitude with victuals and they, conferring among themselves, and finding that they had only five barley loaves and two small fishes remaining, of what they had taken out for their own sustenance, made a ready offer of them for the people; but, at the same time, with doubtful minds, and with wonder at his orders, asked "What are these among so many?" He, without answering their question, commanded that the people should be bid to sit down, in orderly rows upon the grass: and that the five loaves and two fishes should be brought to Him. Which having received, he looked up to heaven and gave thanks, and blessed the food, and gave it to the disciples to distribute to the multitude: all of whom, to the

number of five thousand men, besides women and children, were fed till they were satisfied. What remained of the multiplied loaves and fishes, was gathered together by his directions, that, as he said, nothing might be lost; and being collected, it filled twelve baskets. The people, seeing this wonderful instance of the power of our Lord, rightly concluded, that He was the great prophet who was to appear; and were desirous of proclaiming him their King, being seduced with the prevailing notion, that Christ was to establish an earthly kingdom; to which notion, his chosen followers, also, too wilingly inclined. He, therefore, first hastened away the disciples, and then dismissed the multitude; and himself retired into a mountain to pray.

In this miracle, we may, in the first place, contemplate the glory of God; whose power is not confined to those general laws of nature, according to which he is pleased, in ordinary cases, to appoint that the land and waters should give us their increase. Here was bread made, without the labour of man in sowing the grain, or his art in grinding, tempering, and baking it; here were fishes not generated in the waters, fit for food; and all produced in an instant. By this power, were the children of Israel fed for forty years, in the wilderness. And by the same

power, could the Almighty still sustain mankind; or multiply an hundred-fold, the produce of animals, fruits, and grain, by which we are nourished. If it should be inquired, why Infinite Goodness hath not done this for us; but much care and labour of man are required in the case; and after all, many are suffered to hunger and want? it might be sufficient to answer, that so it hath seemed good to His adorable wisdom. But it is also conducive to piety, to reflect on the particular reasons, which Scripture and nature set before us. Scripture tells us, that we are the offspring of parents, who fell from their first happy state, by their disobedience to God: a part of whose punishment was a curse laid on the ground; from which, thenceforward, man was to earn his food by the sweat of his brow. This, Scripture teaches and reason and experience show, that such an appointment is best upon the whole, both for the health and morals of man, in his present degenerate and corrupted state; in which we find few, that are fit to be trusted with great abundance, and a full command of their time. What, then, would be the case, if all mankind were let loose to enjoy ease and plenty, according to the original fruitfulness of the ground? Our morals are not to be boasted of; but then they

would be worse.

Our earthly happiness is not great; but then it would be less. At present, our wants, and dependences on each other, restrain our appetites and passions; they are a call upon us, for labour, industry, and consideration; and thus, promote the health of the body, and the cheerfulness and vigour of the mind. God therefore is as bountiful to mankind as they can bear: and to inspire us further with acquiescence in the ways of his providence, let us reflect, that Christ our Lord, who, by his example, hath showed thee, O man, what is good, though he relieved others by his heavenly power, yet never did a miracle for his own ease. He felt, the cold and heat, the thirst and hunger, the labour and fatigue, to which man is liable; yet fled not from them to his divinity: he accepted only of such relief, as the charity and hospitality of his pious followers could afford him.

In the second place, this miracle gives encouragement to a due trust in the providence of God, if our first care be to seek his kingdom, in righteousness of life: a due trust, I say, we may then place in his providence over us; for he hath not bound himself to save even the well-disposed. from the hurt that may arise to them, from their. own imprudence and indolence. He is said, by.