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"12. When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the frag"ments that remain, that nothing be lost. 13. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, " which remained over and above unto "them that had eaten."

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In the foregoing verses, we are not only furnished with a new and striking proof of the greatness of the miracle that, after the hunger of five thousand persons had been fatisfied, the fragments which remained exceeded the original quantity of bread produced, but likewife with a fine leffon to every one in their different stations, not to suffer waste the heads of families, who, either through indolence or the want of proper attention to the conduct of their fervants, permit fuch species of extravagance, are highly blamable: it is in a

manner robbing the poor; as it prevents

their receiving thofe comforts which a prudent management would have enabled

the unthinking poffeffor of the goods of fortune to have communicated to them, without expence to himself; or even which, if expensive, he would joyfully bestow on them, were he not prevented by finding his fortune, thro' mismanagement, barely adequate to his own expences.

66 14. Then those men, when they had "feen the miracle that Jefus did, faid, "This is of a truth that prophet that "fhould come into the world.

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“15. When Jesus, therefore, perceived that they would come and take him by force to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.”

The Jews were always ready for sedition and rebellion, laying in wait for an opportunity to throw off the Roman yoke; and their mistake respecting the character of the Meffiah, that he was to appear as a temporal prince, made even the best-meaning amongst them suppose

any

any extraordinary character to be their promised deliverer. No wonder, then, that fuch a miracle fhould unite them in the wish, to choose Jesus for their king. The example of frequent retirement, fet us by our bleffed Saviour, fhould be carefully followed: reflection is the food of the foul. In folitude we recal our wandering thoughts from the follies of the world, to employ them in meditating upon the goodnefs of God, and on the happiness that is reserved for us, if we do not forfeit it through our own negligence or guilt; and fuch reflections will be our best support against the temptations, as well as under the troubles, of the world.

"16. And when even was now come, "his disciples went down unto the sea,

"17. And entered into a fhip, and went over the fea towards Capernaum: "and it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.

"18. And the fea arose, by reason of a

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great

wind that blew.

Hh 2

"19. So

19. So when they had rowed about "five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they "fee Jefus walking on the sea, and draw

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ing nigh unto the fhip: and they were "afraid.

"20. But he faith unto them, It is I; "be not afraid.

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"21. Then they willingly received him into the fhip and immediately the ship "was at the land whither they went."

His difciples, who were the constant witneffes of the miracles which he performed, fhould, in all dangers and difficulties, have depended implicitly upon him; and he therefore reproves them, upon this occafion, for their want of confidence in him. It is one of our greatest comforts, that the fins, weakneffes, and infirmities of the firft characters in Scripture are recorded: had they been omitted, and nothing but their good actions related, what would have become of us poor, infignificant, and frail creatures! we must have been loft in despair; but from their example

example, and the pardon they received, we are encouraged to ftruggle with the more vigor after every relapse from virtue, in the hope of finally conquering the grand enemy of our fouls.

"22. The day following, when the "people which flood on the other fide "of the fea faw that there was none other "boat there, fave that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jefus

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went not with his difciples into the boat, but that his difciples were gone away alone;

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23 (Howbeit there came other boats "from Tiberias, nigh unto the place "where they did eat bread, after that the "Lord had given thanks ;)"

I cannot pafs over this last verse, without pointing out to your notice, the repetition of the circumftance of our Lord's having given thanks; which appears, evidently, intended to impress the duty more ftrongly on our minds.

66 24. When