And we can understand this. For the first idea of many a penitent, especially if their sins have been of the more gross and heinous kind, is the thought that pardon cannot be extended to offences such as theirs. Here, then, is a perpetual proof that these fears are vain. In the case of the same apostle, who proclaims to us that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, he hath first shown forth all long-suffering, for a pattern to them who should hereafter believe in him to life everlasting. A pattern, that if their repentance is sincere, their forgiveness is certain; that if their faith is genuine and true, their title to eternal happiness is surely sealed. Further, we learn from this example, that there are none who may not be converted and renewed, through Him who has engaged to give a new heart and a right spirit to them that trust in him. No greater change can be required, than that which took place in St. Paul, when he, who had been a persecutor, became a preacher of the gospel; when he who had blasphemed the name of Christ, became his zealous servant; when he who had been violent and injurious against every Christian, became an example of that charity which "hopeth all things, beareth all things." Therefore, for this cause also he obtained the mercy which produced this change, that in him all future believers might have an example: a pattern of what they can be made, a pattern of what they must be made, before they can hope for an inheritance in the kingdom of God. They must be "followers of God, as dear children, and walk in love, as Christ hath loved us. All bitterness, and wrath, and clamour, and evil-speaking, must be put away from them, with all malice: and they must be kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven them." 3 LV. FOOD SUPPLIED IN THE WILDERNESS. MARK Vi. 35-44. 35. When the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed: 36. Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat. 37. He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat? 38. He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes. 39. And he commanded them to make all sit down by com-panies upon the green grass. 40. And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. 3 Eph. iv. 3; v. 1, 2. WE can hardly doubt that the person who described this scene, with all its exact particulars, must have been an eye-witness of what he relates, and have told or written what he remembered. There is no reason to suppose that Mark was an eye-witness. But he is believed to have written under the direction of St. Peter: and the whole circumstances appear to have remained fresh and vivid in his recollection. We seem to hear him relating what took place; and saying, It was late in the evening, and the place in which we were was desert and uninhabited : so we came to the Lord as he was teaching, and reminded him that it was time for the people to disperse, that they might go into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they had nothing to eat, having left their homes with no intention of being so long absent. He told us to supply them. It would have cost far more than we could afford. Two hundred pennyworth of bread would not have satisfied the multitude: and all that we could find amongst our own company, was five loaves and two fishes. However, he directed us to make them all sit down. It happened that, though a desert, it was a green and grassy place. And he gave us a lesson of order. If the multitude had sat down in a crowd, as they were standing, there must have been confusion, and some would have been passed over: so he commanded us to arrange them by companies upon the green grass: fifty or a hundred together in a rank; and so they did all eat, and were filled. It was exactly the sort of scene which was likely to remain impressed upon the mind. Many things which Jesus did, and far more which he said, could never have been remembered and repeated without that assistance which he promised, saying, "The Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.' "1 But the Spirit need not dictate what the natural man recollected and this miracle so impressed those who witnessed it, that it, and it alone, is related by all the Evangelists.2 41. And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. 42. And they did all eat and were filled. 43. And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments, and of the fishes. 44. And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men. It must be designed that an important inference should be drawn from a narrative which is made so prominent in the gospel history. And it furnishes a beautiful example of the way in which the Lord, as a true shepherd, watches over the circumstances of his people, and makes provision for wants which would otherwise distress them. The multitude had followed Jesus to this desert, because they saw his mighty works, and many, perhaps, that they might receive benefit from him. He did not allow those to suffer hunger, who because they had seen his miracles believed in him. Far more surely will he comfort others, 1 John xiv. 26. 2 Matt. xiv. 15-21; Luke ix. 12-18; John vi. 5—14. who "not having seen, have yet believed." And they who have opportunity to observe the course of his providential dealings with men, often become acquainted with cases of supply in need, no less unexpected than the increase here made in the loaves and fishes. The changes and reverses which happen in the world, bring many of the servants of Christ to the state of Elijah, when "he arose and went for his life," which was threatened by the revenge of Jezebel.3 "He went a day's journey into the wilderness. And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. And he looked, and behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head; and he did eat and drink, and laid him down again." The Lord whom he served, saw that "the journey was too great for him," and sent him refreshment in the hour of need. And "these things are written for our example, on whom the ends of the world are come.' There is indeed a difference in the way in which God's people are supplied. An angel came to Elijah's aid. And here in the wilderness five loaves and two fishes were made to feed five thousand persons. But He who could command material things to change their nature, that nature which he himself had given them, and which he who gave it, can alter as he sees good:-he can no less govern the hearts of men, and divert their charity into the channel which he desires. So to soften hearts, and overcome their natural selfishness, is as much his work, as to increase the supply of food till it satisfied five thousand men. 3 1 Kings xix. 2-8; 1 Cor. xi. 24. Р |