A.D. 28. b H. W. Beecher. labour for the better food and who yearns for spiritual rest, going hither and thither, up and down, saying, "Have ye seen my Lord and Master? Can ye tell me where He tarries whom my soul delights in?" b 25-27. when.. hither, they might well wonder: still it was idle curiosity. answered, but does not explain. not.. miracles, and desire to learn the great truth they proved. a Je. xv. 16; Jo. because.. filled, they saw in His presence a pledge that temporal need would be supplied. labour not, not alone. meat.. perisheth, and wh. meets only a lower and passing need. but iv. 14; 58. vv. 54, b Ps. ii. 7; xl. 7; Is. xlii. 1; Jo. of the things we do, that we advance in holiness, but by the fervour and purity of intention, with which we do them."- Francis de Sales. "If the soul of man endures so much, in order to obtain whereby to perish, how much more should it endure that, spiritual food. for.. sealed," set the stamp and seal of Divine authority to His person and work. Imperishable food to be preferred to that wh. perisheth.-I. Man's chief business in this world is to save his soul. II. An intemperate pursuit of worldly business is destructive of that concern which we ought to have for the salvation of our souls. III. Whoever would attend to his salvation as he ought to do, must labour for the meat that endureth to everlasting life. IV. There is the utmost certainty that this labour will be crowned with success, seeing Christ is appointed to bestow it.c Preference of the soul to the body.-I. All care and pains for the interest of our bodies is not forbidden. II. The interest of our souls, and all which promotes that, deserves to be far preferred before any interests of the body. III. Labour and diligence are absolutely indispensable in order to secure our best interests. IV. Personal application.d A destructive concern about present things.-It is said that to escape perish- among the recent discoveries at Pompeii was a woman in the act ing."-Augustine. of gathering in her apron, rings, bracelets, and other valuable "The service of articles of jewellery. It would seem that some wealthy persons, God is the only aware of the coming destruction, had made their escape, and left thing which these things behind as worthless in comparison with life; but she, able. Pleasure is hoping to save both, delayed the time of her flight, and, alas! was vanity. Business overwhelmed in the terrific judgment, and so lost her life and her is weariness. jewels. How forcibly may this remind us of covetous worldlings, Ambition is dis-who, while God's people in the last day shall make haste, like makes life valu appointment.". Bp. Medley. c Anon. d Dr. Evans. e John Bate. the people demand a sign Lot, to escape to the mountain of the Lord, they shall be seeking and toiling to accumulate the perishable things of earth, when the conflagration of the world shall break upon them, and they and their possessions shall be consumed together.e 28-31. what.. do, the "labour" sets them thinking. works.. God, i.e., works pleasing to God. this, preeminently. The great thing required of every man. sign, had He not but yesterday wrought a wonderful mir.? [i. 86). b Ma. xii. 38; 1 manna, lit. the manna; by wh. above 2,000,000 were fed daily for many years. a 1 Jo. iii. 23. Co. i. 22. c Ex. xvi. 4, 15; Nu. xi. 7; 1 Co. x. 3. "They The necessity of faith in Christ.-Show-I. What is that work which God more particularly requires of us. II. Why it has this great pre-eminence above all other works: 1. It is that for which forgot Christ Himself "was sent" into the world; 2. It is that, without that their fathers which, all other graces will be of no avail; 3. And which will almost from the secure, for everyone that possesses it, all the blessings both of time of their grace and glory. Application-1. Is there, then, an inquirer eating the man- here? 2. Methinks I hear the voice of an objector; 3. Let me in the very Psalm close with a few words to one, as an approver.-Rev. C. Simeon. disbelievedMoses na, as is set forth to which they re Fall of manna in Turkey.—The Courier de Constantinople com municates the interesting news of a rain of manna having fallen at Yenishebir, by which the inhabitants of that place have been plentifully provided with food of the form of a hazel nut, but capable of being ground into meal. Two pounds sold there for twelve piastres, while the bread prepared from this mysterious product of heaven is said to be most excellent. 32-34. Moses. . not, he was but a man, an instrument, the Bread of whom they accredited with being the cause. Father," who gave Life the manna. true bread, of wh. the manna and other bread are a Ga. iv. 4. types. Those; perishing, material; this, enduring, spiritual. b vv. 48, 58. Bread.. God, for all, and from heaven. He, or that. heaven b .. life, life on earth to fit for life in heaven. evermore bread, they are still thinking of material bread, and would like to have it given. The Bread of Life.-I. A blessing requested. Bread is-1. Of a vivifying quality; 2. Congenial to all appetites; 3. The common gift of God to the world; 4. It can only be useful as we partake of it. II. A person addressed. Prayer is-1. The language of need; 2. The expression of a dependent to a superior; 3. The result of hope. III. A mode of communication stated. IV. A period for its continuance specified.c Our "When God, sending up grace, Lord of all the then in our highest state; we are upon the utmost heights of human greatness; we are not before kings and princes, but in The True Bread.-When the Rev. Ebenezer Erskine's doctrine the presence and was impugned, and his discourses complained of before the Eccle- audience of the siastical Courts, he was enabled to vindicate himself with great world, and can dignity and courage; and expressions sometimes fell from his be no higher till lips which, for a time, overawed and confounded his enemies. death be swalOn one occasion, at a meeting of the Synod of Fife, according to lowed up of victhe account of a respectable witness, when some members were "Lord, make me denying the Father's gift of our Lord Jesus to mankind, he rose to bestow pains and said, "Moderator, our Lord Jesus says of Himself, My in getting those Father giveth you the True Bread from heaven.' This He uttered things, for the obtaining of to a promiscuous multitude; and let me see the man who dares which I am used to affirm that He said wrong." This short speech, aided by the to pray to Thee." solemnity and energy with which it was delivered, made an un--Sir T. More. common impression on the Synod, and on all that were c Anon. present. tory."-W. Law. come to 35-37. I.. Life,a He had led His previous discourse up none cast to this, as the crown and climax. Origin, abundance, life-giving out who properties, etc. suggested. to.. on Gk. πрós-ɛis. Not suf. to come to Christ, must be engrafted into Him. seen.. not, it is sinful folly for men to talk as they oft. do ab. seeing and believing. all. me, His work shall proceed notwithstanding this lack of faith. I. . out,d whoever he may be, however apparently worthless. a Jo. iv. 14; vii. 38; Is. lv. 1-3. bv. 64; Ma. xiii. 13-15; 1 Pe. i. 8. c Ma. xxiv. 24; 1 Pe. i. 2; 2 Ti. ii. 19. d He. vii. 25; Jo. xvii. 2, 6, 9, 11, 24; Is. i. 18; lv. 7; Ma. xi. 28; Lu. xxiii. 42, 4. High doctrine.-I. Consider the gift of God to Christ: 1. Who did the Father give? 2. For what purpose? II. Consider the purpose of God and Christ. "They shall come:" 1. To hear the word; 2. To repentance, etc.; 3. Trusting only in Christ; 4. To own Him King; 5. To the furnace; 6. To the vineyard; 7. At last to the throne. III. The invitation of Christ.e-Whosoever will.-I. Apply these words: 1. To the debtor-He will be their Surety; 2. To the prisoner-He will be their Redeemer; 3. To the sick-He will be their Healer; 4. To the accused-He will be their Advocate; 5. To the condemned - He will be their Saviour; 6. To the miserable-He will be their Comforter. II. Urge giveth life; and « He that cometh shall never hunger, is this bread that he that eateth A.D. 28. he that believeth shall never thirst, all the same the duty- -"Come: " 1. Promptly; 2. Cheerfully; 3. Resolutely; 4. Trustingly.f Hope of the guilty.—A clergyman was called to visit a poor is he that drink- dying woman, who was quite ignorant of the truth. After coneth; to let us see versing with her on the depravity of human nature, and the way that eating Him, of salvation by Jesus Christ, that it was all of grace, and that and drinking Him, coming to there was no limitation as to person or state; the woman listened Him, and believ- to every word with great attention; the tears began to trickle ing on Him, are down her cheeks; and at last she said, "I know nothing of the thing."Dr. man of whom you have been speaking; " immediately adding, Allestry. "I was never brought up in the way of religion; never taught to e Stems and know a letter of a book, nor attend any place of worship." The Twigs. clergyman, visiting her next day, began to discourse upon the suitableness, the ability and willingness of Jesus to save perishing "It is too much sinners. "And do you think, sir," said she, "He will save such boldness, if not a vile wretch as I am?" He observed, the promise ran thus: presumption, to "Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out." Here she leave all to His found a basis to rest on. Omnipotent Her knowledge of Divine things rapidly working, when increased; and her fervent devotions seemed now to be the perHe hath pre-petual breathings of her soul. She solicited the company of scribed us means Christian friends to converse and pray with her, and gave evident ourselves."-Dr. marks of being a subject of that grace to which she had so long been a stranger. f W. W. Wythe. to do somewhat Hammond. none whom the Father gives to Christ are lost a Ps. xl. 7, 8. b Ma. xviii. 14; Jo. x. 38; xvii. 12; xviii. 9; 2 Ti. ii. 19. c vv. 47, 54; Jo. iii. 15, 16. d Jo. xi. 25. "God was made man in order that each sense a 38-40. I came, etc. (Jo. v. 30). will.. me, and fr. the life of Christ we may learn the tenderness of that will of God,His willingness to save. everyone, without exception. seeth believeth, , not seeing without believing, nor believing without the fruits of faith. raise him,d as certainly as unbelievers shall be raised. man; God's unalterable decree in relation to man.-God decrees-I. The well-being of mankind. II. A settled condition for man's well-being. This condition is faith in Christ, as-1. The Divine; 2. The all-efficient; 3. The only Redeemer.e-Life for the believer. -I. Who is the Son? II. What is it to see Him? III. What should we know concerning Him: 1. That He is God; 2. But became 3. When a man, He suffered; 4. And rose again from the dead, and 5. Ascended into heaven. of man's nature None rejected by Christ.-"It is said of the senate of Athens, might in Him find that once upon occasion they were constrained to sit in the open its peculiar blessedness: that fields; and being there set in the open fields, a poor chased bird, the eye of the a sparrow or the like, chased by the birds of prey, came flying to mind might be the bosom of one of the senators for rescue from their talons; refreshed with the contemplathe senator being of a churlish disposition, he takes the poor tion of His Di- little chased bird and throws it from him upon the ground, and vinity, and the so killed the bird; whereupon the senate made an order that he eye of the body should die himself; they would not have a man so churlish to be with the sight of His humanity." one of the senators." Christ will never cast away any who seek -Augustine. shelter in His bosom. The desire of such is beautifully expressed by Charles Wesley in the hymn beginning e Dr. Thomas f Beveridge, Theo. Thes. i. 434. 66 Jesus, lover of my soul, Let me to Thy bosom fly!" and it is said that the sentiment of the hymn was suggested by a sparrow, when pursued by a hawk, taking refuge in his bosom as he was dressing one morning near to an open window. A.D. 28. 41, 42. murmured because, etc., they murmured at The offence of the Jews on account of our Lord's humble origin. -I. An offence: 1. In His terrestrial state and existence; 2. In His human lowliness; 3. In His relations. II. Yet an offence which will leave us self-condemned. III. A most fatal offence, since unbelief deprives us of the blessing of Christ's wondrous ex- great hindrance to us, that only Coming to Christ.-When Christ tells men to come unto Him, work; no man cometh unto Me, except the Father draw him.”e .. yourselves, it will not help you; or alter the facts. can come, moral inability. Father.. draw, a knowledge real Christians have, is taught them not by men but by the magnet liv. 13. A.D. 26. draws not everything, but it draws Chrysostom. harp that brings the Holy Ghost; 3. We see how it is that children, poor persons, those of little learning, and small ability, embrace the Gospel.s In personal religion, who is first?-A lady was one evening iron."- engaged in dispute with a gentleman, and argued so long and so "The outward Violently, in defence of the creature's being first in the matter of means of draw- conversion to God, that, to her surprise, she perceived it was one ing is by the o'clock in the morning. She started, and said, "Well, I have not Word; it is the thought it was so late; I see I cannot work upon you, and I am sound of that sure all you say will not convince me; so good night." "Yes," the stones of said the gentleman, "it is time to go to rest. Madam, I wish you this spiritual a good night. I suppose, however, that when you retire, you building."-Abp. think to spend a few minutes between you and God." "Doubtless, sir, I do." Please, then, madam, to tell God what you have just told me.' "What is that, sir?" Why, madam, that you began with Him, before He began with you." 'No, I will not," said she. I "knew you would not," replied the gentleman, "and therefore I reserved this argument to the last, for I never found any person of your opinion, that could address God in consistency with the language you hold out so confidently to your fellow-mortals." Leighton. and superior to dorus. g Dr. Edwards. I am that a vv. 33, 35, 51. 66 b 48-52. I.. Life,a whom the manna typified. manna, nature Bread of Life of manna mysterious. The word "manna," sig. "what is it?" None could answer so of Christ (vv. 41, 42, 52). dead, it nourished their bodies for a time. not die, he who receives the living bread, possesses the pledge of everlasting life. flesh.. life, the death of Christ, the life of all who believe. strove, fr. murmuring, to quarrelling. Oft. the case. How," ah! how indeed? It seemed impossible to their carnal minds. d He. x. 5; x. 20; Jo. iii. 16; 1 Jo. ii. 2. e Jo. iii. 9. "The bread thou eatest with a merry heart, that very food, which nourisheth thy The Living Bread.-This bread-I. Has a wonderful power to strengthen. II. To satisfy. III. To save. Application: (1) We ought to use it ourselves; (2) We ought to give it to others. life, gives thee-Soul food.-Soul food: I. Is provided for man: 1. It satisfies withal an earnest the hunger; 2. It invigorates the powers of the soul. II. Requires of death, as it the chief labour of man, because-1. It is indispensable to our dregs in thee, well-being; 2. It can only be obtained by the most earnest which will in efforts. By-(1) Imitation; (2) Meditation; (3) Supplication. time procure the III. Is the gift of Christ. By his-1. Teaching; 2. Spirit.-Dr. Christ, here and in heaven.-One of the Missionaries in the East Indies being called to visit the death-bed of one of the native staff knocks us Christians, inquired into the state of her mind. She replied, grave at last, Happy! happy! I have Christ here," laying her hand on the which our life Bible, " and Christ here," pressing it to her heart, "and Christ leans on, and is there," pointing upwards to heaven. Happy Christian! to whatpreserved by."Gurnall. ever part of the universe she might be removed, the Lord of the f Hive iii. 93. universe was with her, and she was secure of a home. no life with- 28. b v. 40. c Ps. iv. 7. 53-56. eat.. flesh, etc., live upon Him daily, by faith. no.. you, no real spiritual life, as the beginning and pledge of eternal life, without union with Christ. whoso, etc. (see on v. 26-40). indeed, really and truly food for the soul, as bread, or manna for the body. dwelleth,d abideth. This reception of Christ, by faith, secures a vital union with Him now and for d Jo. xv. 4; 1 Jo. Food for the soul.-I. What is here understood by flesh and iii. 24; iv. 15, 16. blood? We must take these words in a spiritual sense: II. In |