the multitude, which would have been catch'd CHAP. up by a small number of those who were moft I. greedy; afterwards it might have been afferted, that there had been a fufficient quantity for the whole multitude, had they been diftributed in order and managed with œconomy. But the ranging the people in different companies, none of which were more and many lefs than an hundred, and their fitting quietly on the grafs, each confining himself to his proper rank, fets the truth or falfhood of this miracle in the clearest light. This is a fecond circumstance, which ought to be a fufficient proof to the moft diftrustful.

After the multitude had eaten, Jefus bids his apostles gather up the fragments, which was a plain proof of their having plenty: and the difciples filled twelve baskets with the fragments that remained. After this can there be the leaft room for incredulity?

The people, ftruck with a miracle in itself so astonishing, and in which they were fo greatly interested, were convinced that he was the prophet promised by the Almighty to fucceed Mofes, and to become the mediator of the new covenant. And they were defirous to pronounce him king, because the Meffiah, according to their notions, was entitled to the fame fovereignty as other princes, and to rule over Ifrael, as David and Solomon had done. This fourth circumftance is a farther proof of the miracle, and of the impreffion it had made on every body's mind.

+ Deut. xviii. 15.

Finally,

PART

Finally, Jefus Chrift fpeaking the next day IV. to the fame people in the village of Capernaum, who were ftill amazed at the miracle which he performed, rebuked them for being wholly fenfible of the temporal effect of it, whilst they neglected to apply it to their eternal falvation. This reproach not only establishes the miracle, but likewife gives it an additional dignity, by exhibiting the main defign that Jefus Chrift had in performing it, and the mystery to which he was willing it fhould contribute.

It is therefore impoffible either to oppofe fuch ftrong evidence, or to leffen the credit of a miracle, which had the teftimony of more than ten thousand perfons, not mere fpectators, but guests, (the women and children being at least equal in number to the men) and which is fo neceffarily connected with other facts, equally public and true. But we must not stop here; and if the miracle is unquestionable, it is as much past dispute that Jefus Chrift is the Meffiah and the Son of God: for in the fame difcourse, where he speaks of this miracle to the people of Capernaum, he plainly fays, "That, "he is the living bread, which came down "from heaven, and which gives life to the "world; whofo believeth on him hath eter"nal life, and that he will raise those at the "laft day, who fhall come unto him after hav"ing been drawn by his heavenly Father." He demonftrates these fecret truths by a public miracle. He fays, that this miracle is the exter-nal fign and feal thereof: and as a prodigy manifested

+ John vij

nifefted with fo public evidence cannot be re- CHAP. jected, fo the doctrine which it enforces can- I. not but equally be entitled to a thorough belief.

Let us refume our discourse, and look upon the five loaves and two fishes in the hands of Jefus Chrift, as the grain and feed annually increased by his providence by a miracle equally true, and much more aftonishing, tho' by its familiarity it becomes lefs obferved. Let us confider how in the prodigies themselves he follows the order which he has prescribed to nature, by demanding on the fide of man fomething which conceals the creation, and that belongs to the ancient creatures which he intends to multiply. Let us admire how his fruitful hands discharge themselves into those of his apostles, and from them into the breasts of the people, without any one's being able to unravel the mystery of fuch a fecundity, altho' the whole multitude partook of the bleffing. And how in the increase and diftribution of a temporal nourishment, he has figured the mystery of the gospel and of the fpiritual food, which he directly beftowed on his ministers, and which by their means he convey'd to the very babes.

But chiefly let us confider how attentive he was to prove himself the promised Meffiah, and yet without permitting the people to proclaim him king, because he was already invefted with the royal dignity in a more fublime, and in a more perfect manner than the people thought or defired. He fhews what he is,

and

PART and evades the people's intent: this is acting IV. like himself, and giving a moft fenfible mark of his divine character.

Lastly, let us admire, how after fuch a prodigy he is infinitely fuperior to it; how little affected with what dazles the people, and even is afflicted at it; and how ufelefs the miracle in itself appeared to him, if he was to be fatiffied with the admiration of an interested people, and if it were not the figure and promise of another, more futable to his magnificence, and love for his elect. "You feek me (fays

he) not because ye faw the miracles (which

ought to have faith for their fruit) but be"cause ye did eat of the loaves and were filled. "Labour not for the meat which perisheth, "but for that meat which endureth unto everlafting life, which the Son of man shall give "unto you: for him hath the Father fealed," and plainly described, by feeding you in the defart with the miraculous bread.

rr

The fecond increase of loaves, which is not only certain, but confirms many of the foregoing miracles.

HE miracle that we are now treating

Tof, has been a fecond time repeated

with almoft the fame circumftances, and this repetition compleats the preceding demonftrations. Thus Saint Matthew relates this Mi

racle,

racle,

"Jefus came nigh unto the fea ofCHar Galilee, and went up into a mountain and I. "fat down there. And great multitudes came "unto him, having with them those that were

lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many "others, and caft them at Jefus feet, and he "healed them': infomuch that the multitude "wondered, when they faw the dumb to

fpeak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to fee; and they glorified the God of Ifrael. Then Jefus called his difciples unto him, and faid, I have compaffion on the multitude, because "they continue with me now three days

and have nothing to eat. I will not fend "them away fafting, left they faint in the way. "And his difciples fay unto him, Whence "fhould we have fo much bread in the wil"derness, as to fill fo great a multitude? And "Jefus faith unto them, How many loaves "have ye? And they faid, Seven, and a few "little fishes. And he commanded the multi"tude to fit down on the ground. And he "took the feven loaves and the fishes, and gave "thanks, and brake them, and gave to his "difciples, and the difciples to the multitude. "And they did all eat and were filled. And "they took up of the broken meat that was left, seven baskets full. And they that did eat, were four thousand men, befides women and children."

In order to establish the truth of this miracle, I am far from making use of the fame reflections

+ Matth. xv. 29.