narrative which informs us that our Lord fed five thousand persons with "five barley loaves, and two small fishes."

Minister. Well; let us take this portion of the evangelical history; connecting with it the other narrative, in which there is an account of a similar miracle wrought for four thousand. We will do as we have done before. You may refer to the Evangelists who narrate the occurrence; and then we will place Mr. Townsend's "Harmony" before us, so as to have the whole at one view.

George. For the first, then, Sir, I must refer to Matthew xiv. 15-22; Mark vi. 35-45; Luke ix. 12–18; John vi. 3-15.

Minister. And for the second,-Matthew xv. 32, to the end; Mark viii. 1—11. Mr. Townsend's arrangement you will find in his first volume, (New Testament,) pp. 181 and 195. There they are.

George. Then, will you be so good as to tell me the time of this miracle?

Minister. About the beginning of the third year of our Lord's ministry, he went through the cities and villages of Galilee, (Matt. ix. 35, &c.,) preaching the Gospel of the kingdom, and working his usual miracles of benevolent power; and seeing the destitute condition of the people, in reference to spiritual food, he commanded the disciples to pray the Lord of the harvest that he would send more labourers into the harvest. Soon after, he commissioned the twelve Apostles, giving them power to work miracles similar to his own, and sent them forth to preach. About that time, (Matt. xiv. 6-13,) Herod put John to death; and soon after the Apostles returned, and "gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught." (Mark vi. 30.) He then took them, going in a vessel on the lake of Tiberias, into a desert place not far from Bethsaida, on the north point of the lake. The place of his retirement, however, was soon known, and great multitudes resorted to him. I may add, that John tells us, (chap. vi. 4,) that "the Passover was nigh." If you turn to Luke, (chap. ix. 11,) you will find that he did not send them away.

George. No, Sir.

He "spake to them of the kingdom of God, and healed all them that had need of healing."

Minister. Yes; but not only did he thus show his love for man: the wretched state of the people, as you will learn from Mark, (chap. vi. 34,) deeply affected him.

George. He "

was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd."

Minister. And yet they dwelt in what was a land of vision, in respect of the word and ordinances of God, and what ought to have been so, in respect of the ministrations of their official instructers. But in all ages, such has been the state of the people, as the ministry of the word has been. At this time,

the defection from practical truth was awfully general. The blind were the leaders of the blind, and both had fallen into the ditch.

George. Thus, then, Sir, this remarkable day was spent. Multitudes had crowded to our Lord; and he not only instructed them, but enforced his teaching, and persuaded the people to obedience, by the miracles which he wrought before them, on behalf of all who needed his help.

Minister. Yes; but the greatest of all was reserved to the last. The evening drew nigh; the place was desert, and human nature requires, after brief intervals, its regular supply of food.

George. And therefore, I perceive, his disciples requested that the multitudes might be sent away to the neighbouring villages, that they might obtain provision and lodging. They were aware that they had no supply of food for such numbers. Minister. True; but you will observe that he immediately said, “They need not depart."

George. And Philip was very much astonished at this. He directly said, "Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient."

Minister. And now observe the behaviour of our Lord. How exactly it agrees with himself, as we now know him! He is calm, serious, kind, unostentatious. He knew his own power; he saw there was a fitting occasion for its exercise, and prepared to exercise it. Observe the manner in which he does this.

George. He inquires what provision they had.

Minister. And mark well its humble character, both as to quality and quantity. "Five barley loaves and two small fishes." Think of this; and whatever is your lot, be content with it. This was to have been the evening meal of Christ and his disciples.

George. Well might Andrew say, "What are they among so many?"

Minister. But the Creator of all was there. He called their attention to the provision, that they might be prépared to testify of the miracle. And for this purpose, too, as well as for convenience, he directed that all who were present should sit down in arranged companies. Think that you see them. All is now solemn expectation. There are the loaves and fishes can he with these feed us all?

George. It is indeed astonishing, Sir: as he gives the bread to the disciples to serve the rest, it multiplies in his hands, and so there is enough for them all.

Minister. Yes, and more than enough. He directs that the broken pieces, the fragments, should be gathered up, at once to mark the miracle, and to inculcate the moral lesson,-no trifling one, that nothing is to be wasted. What God gives, we are at liberty to use; but because He gives it, we have no right to waste it.

George. Was the other miracle of the same kind, wrought under any peculiarly different circumstances, Sir?

Minister. None that seem to call for especial observation. On the last occasion, the number of men was about four thousand; but there were women and children likewise. There were, also, 66 seven loaves," and "a few little fishes." But the difference is trivial. The miracle is equal in both instances. Could this be a mere man? Think of the occurrence so as to realize it, and let your faith be confirmed. And as to subordinate lessons, collect from the narrative these three. 1. Be moderate in your desires. Our Lord had provided, for his evening meal, barley bread, and a small portion of fish, salted and dried, to eat with the bread. 2. Seek God's blessing on your food, and all God's gifts. Christ "looked up to heaven, and blessed," before he

distributed. 3. Christ does not now work miracles. But see his compassion and power. Remember, He is unchangeable. He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities, and knows how to succour the tempted. As Caleb and Joshua followed the Lord fully, so let it be with you. Your Saviour is divine, and almighty. Follow him fully. He will take care of you here; and in heaven, lead you to the fountains of living waters; and God himself shall wipe away all tears, and give an eternal fulness of joy.

SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS.

REMOVAL OF PASTORAL FAMILIES IN THE EAST TO FRESH

GROUND.

GEN. xxxi. 17, 18. "Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels; and he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods."-A very interesting and prominent part of oriental usages consists in the different forms of travelling and migration, in which little alteration seems to have taken place since the most early times, the usages of which are briefly indicated in the book of Genesis. It is impossible for one who is acquainted with the Bible, to witness the migration of a nomade tribe, whether Arabian or Tartar, without being forcibly reminded of this journey of Jacob, and the various removals of his grandfather and father. The degree of change probably extends little further than to the more warlike character which the tribes now assume in their journeys, arising from the increase of population, and from the extension of the aggressive principle among the children of the deserts. The order of march in the removal of a pastoral tribe or family seems to be just the same as that which may be traced in the next and ensuing chapter. When the number of animals is considerable, they are kept in separate flocks and droves, under the charge of shepherds and herdsmen, or of the young men and women of the tribe, who hurry actively about, often assisted by dogs, to restrain the larger and more lively animals from straying too far. The very young or newly-born lambs and kids are carried, either under the arms of the young people, or in baskets or panniers thrown across the backs of camels. To this

custom of carrying the lambs in the arms of the shepherds, as well as to the necessity mentioned by Jacob (chap. xxxiii. 13) of driving slowly when the sheep are with young, there is a beautiful allusion in Isaiah, chap. xl. 11: "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young." The sheep and goats generally lead the van, and are followed by the camels, and perhaps asses, laden more or less with the property of the community; consisting of the tents, with their cordage, mats, carpets, clothes, skins, water and provision bags, boilers and pots, and sundry other utensils, bundled up in admirable confusion, unless when all the property belongs to one person, as in the case of Jacob. The laden beasts are usually followed by the elderly men, the women, and the children, who are mostly on foot in the ordinary migrations with the flocks; which must be carefully distinguished from a caravan-journey or a predatory excursion across the deserts. The very young children are carried on the backs or in the arms of their mothers, who in general are on foot, but are sometimes mounted, with their infants, on the spare or lightly-laden beasts. The sick and very aged persons are similarly mounted; and the children old enough to take some care of themselves, but not to go on foot, or perhaps to speak, are either carried on the backs of the young men or women, or are set upon the top of the baggage on the beasts of burden, and left there to shift for themselves. The little creatures cling to their seats, and seldom require or receive much attention. The middle-aged men, well armed and ready for action, march steadily along by the flanks of the column, controlling and directing its general progress; while the younger people attend to the details. The Chief himself brings up the rear, accompanied by the principal persons of the party. He is generally on horseback, however the rest may be circumstanced. Sometimes, when the tribe is wealthy, a great proportion of the people may be mounted in some way or other; and the men, armed with lances, ride about to bring up the march of the cattle; but, as a general thing, we may say, that the mass of the people perform such migrations on foot.-Knight's Illustrated Commentary.