fragrant with flowers, the lemon and the orange-tree were just exchanging their blossoms for early fruit, the setting sun was casting over the Jordan range a golden glow, in the distance the farmers were returning from their toil to the city of Bethsaida, on the placid lake fishermen were drawing up their nets, and their white-winged fleets were hastening to their homes, the birds were nestling down in the tree-tops, and the sacred stillness of twilight was gathering over the scene, as Jesus, taking these five little barley-cakes in his hands, brake them, and gave thanks to God for the provision which his faith perceived in store for the waiting people. More wonderful than the twenty like loaves with which Elisha fed one hundred men in Gilgal,* or the widow's cruise and barrel which, through a long famine, failed not, this little stock was not exhausted until all were satisfied. And that he might forever set at rest such doubts of the verity of this miracle as a later skepticism has invented, such, for example, as that the people, entranced by Christ's teaching, were indifferent to the claims of hunger, and, spiritually fed, suffered the evening meal to pass unnoticed, Jesus instructed his disciples to borrow from among the people their traveling baskets, the common accompaniment of the Jewish pilgrim, and gather up the fragments that remained. They gathered enough to fill twelve of these baskets.

Our Christian faith, instructed not less by the subsequent history of Christianity than by the life and teachings of Jesus, sees in this miracle a parable, as in all the works of Jesus it recognizes an illustration of his life of love. "It is," says an eloquent French writer,§"the brilliant inauguration of that fruitful miracle of Christian charity which has ever since gone on multiplying bread to the hungry. The heart of man once touched, like the rock in the desert touched by

* 2 Kings iv., 42-44. † 1 Kings xvii., 16. Compare, for full account of this miracle, Matt. xiv., 13-21; Mark vi., 30-44; Luke ix., 10-17; John vi., 1-14.

§ Pressensé, Life of Christ, p. 383.

the rod of Moses, has gone on pouring over thirsty crowds the inexhaustible stream of generosity."

But more than that-in this one act of love we perceive symbolized that miraculous multiplying of sacred influences which, from one brief life of three active years, and one body pierced and broken on the tree, feeds innumerable thousands who sit, grateful recipients of the Bread of Life, beneath the shadow of the Great Rock.

So we read this act; so, however, did not the Jews.

For it was not only a part of their expectation that Jesus, restoring the ancient theocracy, would resuscitate the prophetic order and the miracles which constituted one of the signs of their divine commander, but in part that he would repeat the miracle of the ancient manna. Drought and famine should then be known no more. The prophecy of Isaiah,* "My servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry,” should be literally fulfilled. Israel should be gathered together. The young men should feed on bread, the old men on honey, the children on oil. Every palate should be pleased, every appetite satisfied, and the prolific profusion of the Garden of Eden should repeat itself in the land of the Messiah. These prophecies of their scribes, with which constant repetition in the synagogue had rendered the common people familiar, seemed to them about to be fulfilled. This provision for the body was more significant than all that which Christ had provided for the soul. Their enthusiasm overcoming all bounds, the people prepared forthwith to crown this prince, and, taking him in their arms, bear him at the head of a triumphal procession into the Holy City, in the midst of the Passover feast, to overturn by a miracle the power of Rome, and inaugurate the new kingdom of God. The disciples, still but little comprehending the nature of that kingdom, were but too ready to farther the plan and fan the wild enthusiasm. Christ instantly perceived, and as instantly frustrated *Isaiah lxv., 13.

† See authorities quoted in Milman's History of Christianity, p. 103.

The disciples h; d not gope fai xzed about them, when one of t. Lebanon range sends so frequi Jer truck the lake, and, destreuen, drove their boat far en ing Bethsaida, as they should i . ngcan be found them rowing a bosterous waves to make good Lord. When even the gray a sull out upon the lake, advances, three niles, and their Lord str;' · for their retum. Thus laboring t tight of the morning, when al distet, the disciples, already ex1ar bor and their night of watchir. upon the waves on which it re keep their little craft alive. It

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pass by them. They cry out with terra parition; but, though they recognize not the s at once the voice of the Master. A word from to reassure them. Peter, his fear el angel to tes jermission to perform theirsele of the Ford; i, ity, chang ʼn 2 as que

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