only to such parts as, by the false construction of spiritual glory into temporal power and rule, flattered their vanity; and which the lowly situation of our Lord by no means fulfilled.

One great reason, says Stanhope, why many who read the scripture history very much, make improvement by no means answerable to their time and pains, is certainly this; that men usually content themselves with a general knowledge of facts related there, without descending to nice circumstances and the manner of performing them, whereas here it is chiefly that the beauty and advantage of history lies: these, rightly judged and aptly applied, are the parts best qualified to inform our understanding, and to season all our conversation with prudence and all our behaviour with propriety.

" 40. And ye will not come to me, that

"have life."

ye might

Strange folly to reject, by their disbelief in him, so great salvation! Let us, whilst we pity their stupidity, take care to guard against the like perverseness; for if we do not obey his laws, we equally reject him.

41. I receive not honour from men. « 42. But I know "of God in you.

you, that ye have not the love

“ 43. I am come in my Father's name, and ye "receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.

"44. How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that "cometh from God only ?"

They pretended to love and honor God; but the Searcher of hearts here reproves them for their hypocrisy, and for receiving honor from men of which

they

they were totally unworthy. The man of real piety is truly humble, and rejoices in that honor which is paid to God alone, to whom he is ever ready to as

cribe it..

They honored each other for the purpose of imposing on the world: not that they could have a regard for their companions in deceit; for there is no› true friendship in vice: religion and virtue are its only foundations. Our blessed Saviour taught doctrines: which they did not choose to follow: his divine gospel was of a nature too pure and refined to suit their conduct;, for which reason they rejected both him and the Christian religion. An impostor who should come in his own name, would be much more likely, as our Saviour observes, to find credit with them: he would find it his interest to indulge them in, or at least to wink at, many of their favorite vices; and would, consequently, acquire numerous proselytes. amongst them. We find this observation fully verified in the Jewish history; where many pretenders to the character of the Messiah are related to have started up, and to have been zealously followed by the people..

45. Do not think that I will accuse you; to the "Father: there is one that accuseth you;, even "Moses, in whom ye trust.

"46. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have "believed me; for he wrote of me. "believed not his writings, how shall ye "words??"

But if ye believe my

How does the clemency and benignity of our Lord here display itself! It was not from him, ill as they had used him, that they were to fear accusation; but from Moses; that prophet upon whom their whole faith and trust were built! His writings so fully pointed to our blessed Lord, that they were a constant monument of the folly of the Jews in denying him, and.

F 5

clearly

clearly proved that their professions of belief in him were merely superficial; otherwise they would have attended to him, in a matter of the utmost importance to their salvation; and would then have found, that his predictions respecting the Messiah, were completely verified in the person of Jesus Christ: but they wanted that humility and meekness for which Moses was so conspicuous, to be in reality his disciples.

Thus we see, that the Jews, by their pride and obstinacy, lost that inestimable privilege which, as the chosen people of God, they enjoyed above all other nations, in being the depositaries of the revealed will of the Almighty, and suffered the Gentile world to step before them in the race of faith in that blessed Redeemer, in whom all the nations of the earth are to be blessed.

Let us endeavor to profit by their example, and shun every species of pride and arrogance: let us diligently search the Scriptures, for in them we know we have the words of eternal life; and let us petition the Father of Mercies, that the sacred truths they contain, and which are the delight of a pious mind, may sink deep into our hearts; that each successive perusal of them may be attended with additional spiritual gifts, and bring forth in us the fruits of goodliving, to his honor and glory, and to the salvation of our own souls. Grant this, merciful Lord, for thy dear Son's sake, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

CHAPTER

CHAPTER THE TENTH.

ST. JOHN, CHAP. VI.

1. AFTER these things, Jesus went over the sea

Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. "2. And a great multitude followed him; because they saw his miracles which he did on them that 66. were diseased."

Any uncommon character necessarily attracts attention: when, therefore, our blessed Saviour appeared, and not only did wonderful works, but made: them all subservient to the relief and benefit of mankind, he would of course have a great number of followers: for when interest is joined to curiosity, they will surmount all difficulties.

3. And Jesus went up into a mountain, and "there he sat with his disciples.

4. And the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was "nigh. "5. When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw "a great company come unto him, he saith unto "Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?

66.

6. (And this he said to prove him for he him"self knew what he would do.)".

Yet

The other three Evangelists mention the disciples. coming to our Lord to beg he would send the multitude away. How astonished,, then, must they have been, when he said, "Give ye them to eat." why should he, who cured all manner of disorders, be supposed to want the power to feed those he had so miraculously restored to health? But the disciples were still wavering in their faith.

7. Philip answered him, Two hundred penny"worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every "one of them may take a little.

8. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon-Peter's "brother, saith unto him,

"9. There is a lad here, which hath five barley "loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they "among so many?

10. And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. "Now there was much grass in the place. So the 60 men sat down, in number about five thousand.

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.".

Here let me call your attention to the conduct of our Lord, in a point which, I am afraid, is too frequently neglected. Although exercising the power of his godhead, in creating food, yet would he not omit the duty which, in his human nature, he owed to God the Father for the blessing. The Son of God descended from Heaven, to be our pattern, as well as our saviour. Can any Christian, then, hope to be excused, who presumes to sit down to table without begging a blessing upon the provision which the Almighty bestows upon him?

Nothing is more deservingly held in abhorrence, than ingratitude and shall we not thankfully acknowledge our constant obligations to our kind and generous Benefactor? But there are still further advantages attending our begging God's blessing upon the good things he has been pleased to provide for us: we all know that intemperance will convert the most wholesome nourishment, either of eating or drinking, into poison; and nothing is more likely to check our inordinate appetites, and to make us moderate in the use of God's blessings, than the pious recollection

and