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the glad tidings, and the nature of the redemption which he came to effect.

They went, however, "in the name of the Lord;" they declared the fulfilment of longcherished expectations, and the accomplishment of prophecies which had been always known in Judea ; and they gave evidence of their authority by healing the sick; and therefore it was said, Whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them. Give this sign that you abandon that city, and renounce it. So Paul and Barnabas were forced to "shake off the dust of their feet " against the people of Antioch in Pisidia, and proceeded to Iconium. 3

That dust will rise up against many in the day of judgment, as well as against the inhabitants of Judea, and show that when God would have gathered his people together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, "they would not !"

7. Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead;

8. And of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again.

9. And Herod said, John have I beheaded; but who is this, of whom I hear such things? and he desired to see him.

(Matt. xiv. 13-21; Mark vi. 32-44; John vi. 1—14.)

10. And the apostles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done. And he took them, and went aside

3 Acts xiii. 51.

4 So called, because he had succeeded to a fourth part of the dominions of his father, Herod the great.

privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.

11. And the people, when they knew it followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.

12. And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place.

13. But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes : except we should go and buy meat for all this people.

14. For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company. 15. And they did so, and made them all sit down.

16. Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.

17. And they did eat, and were all filled and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.

This miracle is related by all the Evangelists in succession; which seems to intimate that we should seek for further instruction from it, than is conveyed by the mere exhibition of divine power.

One inference is very obvious. Those who "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, shall not be allowed to remain destitute of other things.

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The persons here collected had shown themselves so much in earnest, as to follow our Lord into a desert place, far from their homes, and unmindful of their wants. We know that there are many who are deterred from any care of the soul by the slightest inconvenience; whilst others are found to struggle against many obstacles, that they may en

joy the means of grace, and obtain instruction. This is doubtless pleasing to God. It is a proof of faith, of earnestness, of constancy: and the example here gives encouragement to such zeal.

The twelve, foreseeing the straits to which the multitude would shortly be exposed, offered to send them away, that they might go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get themselves victuals. But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. As if to intimate, that all who make religion their first concern, place themselves under the especial care of God, and shall not be neglected by him. It is commonly found so. When St. Paul said to the Philippians, "My God shall supply all your need," he spoke from his own experience. Many, by too great anxiety for temporal things, have lost both these and the favour of God also: but few have ever been made poorer, even as regards this world, by following the Lord fully, and leaving themselves in his hands.

Oh that men would be wise, and understand this! How many persist in practices which are contrary to their principles, which distress their consciences, through fear of worldly loss! And how many others, whom the grace of God has enabled to forego such practices, trusting to his support, have realized the truth which says, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you!"

In the present case, Jesus took the five loaves and two fishes, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude, and they did all eat, and were filled. Here the Creator exercised a visible and immediate

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power over the work of his hand. But he also governs the hearts of men, and the circumstances of life. In this instance he acted upon the material elements, and moulded them to his purpose. With the same ease he can so influence human agents, and so dispose events, that all shall concur to establish the truth of David's words, "I have been young, and now am old; yet never saw I the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging their bread."

LECTURE XXXI.

THE APOSTLES ACKNOWLEDGE JESUS TO BE THE CHRIST.-HE WARNS THEM TO EXPECT TRIALS, AND EXHORTS THEM TO SUFFER FOR HIS SAKE.

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18. And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?

19. They answering said,

John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again.

20. He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God.

21. And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing;

22. Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.

Many reports, it appears, were spread abroad, and many different opinions entertained respecting Jesus. Some supposed, like Herod, that John the Baptist had risen again; others considered him to be Elijah, that prophet who was expected as the forerunner of the Messiah; and others thought that God had restored to life one of the older prophets, to warn and instruct his people. But so little did Jesus answer the expectations which prevailed concerning him who was to come, that the apostles alone perceived him to be the Christ of God.

To them this truth had been revealed by the Holy Ghost: but it was not to be yet generally proclaimed, except as far as his doctrines and his miracles proclaimed it. He commanded them to tell no man that thing. Much was to be accomplished concerning the Son of man, before his kingdom was set up. The were probably supposing that earthly power and dignity would belong to Christ and his followers. No: the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and be slain, and be raised the third day. And so too must his disciples suffer many things: his religion must be a religion of self-denial; and its principle, a sacrifice of this world for that which is to come.

23. And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

24. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save

it.

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