defir'd to have been only with his Apoftles, yet according to his cuftom received? them kindly and confidering that a great many of them were fincerely difpos'd to receive Inftructions, tho they had none among them whose business, it was to instruct them in the Principles of Religion, he took compaffion on them, efteeming them as Sheep deftitute of a Shepherd. According to his cuftom therefore he acquainted them with feveral things relating to the heavenly Kingdom of the Meffiah, and cur'd fuch fick perfons as were prefented to him. After which he went up into a Mountain, together with his Difciples. Now at that time the Paffover, the most celebrated Festival among the Jews, was at hand, which happens about the Spring time of the Year. Toward the Evening the Multitude continuing ftill attentive to the Doctrine of Fefus, the Apoftles put him in mind that the place in which they were was unin habited, and the time of the day well nigh fpent; that therefore he should difinifs the When Jefus then lift up his eyes, and faw a great company come unto him, he faith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread that these may eat? 6 (And this he faid to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do) 7 Philip answered him, Two hundred penny-worth of bread is not fufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. the Multitude, that they might procure Victuals and Lodging in the neighbouring Towns and Villages. Jefus looking round upon the People, and perceiving a great number of them, ask'd Philip if he knew where to get Bread that Evening fufficient for fo great a Multitude. This Jefus fpake, not as deliberating with himself about buying fuch a quantity of Bread, for he had determin'd to feed them after the manner we shall prefently relate, but to fee what anfwer Philip would return him, who immediatly replied, that two hundred Pennyworth was not enough for them, that every one might receive a fmall portion to refresh himself. Jefus then turning himself about to his Apoftles, bid 'em give them wherewith to eat. What, unto him, We have when they knew, they no more * We have but five here but five loaves, fay, Five, and two loaves and two fifhes; 8 One of his dif ciples, Andrew, Simon Feters brother, faith unto him, 9 There is a lad here, which hath five barly-loaves, and two fmall fishes: but what are they among fo many? 它 10 And Jefus faid, Make the men fis down. Now there was much grafs in the place. What, faid they, fhall we go and buy two hundred Pennyworth of Bread to be diftributed among them? fuppofing they had not enough to purchase fo much. Jefus hereupon ask'd them what quantity might be procur'd in that place? Andrew, Peter's Brother, made anfwer, that there was a Youth in the company that had five Barley Loaves and two fmall Fishes, but that this was next to nothing in refpect of the number of the People. Jefus then commanded them to bring the five Loaves and the two Fishes to him, and to make the People fit down upon the Grafs by fifty in a Company. The The People accordingly feated themfelves by hundreds pany. and fiftys in a Com Jefus then taking the Loaves and the Fishes into his hands, gave thanks to God, according to his cuftom, and then by the hands of his Apoftles, diftributed them among the Multitude, who all had enough and to fpare; and Jefus having commanded his Apoftles to gather up the Fragments, that nothing of this miraculous Food might be wafted, they took up of the broken pieces of the Fish and Bread as much as fill'd twelve Baskets. Now they were five thousand Men, befides Women Women and Children, whom Jefus thus entertain'd, and who perceiving this wonderful Miracle, concluded he was that extraordinary Prophet whom God had promis'd to fend unto 'em, namely, the Meffiah. at Jefus immediately order'd his Difciples (who obey'd him with fome reluctancy parting with him) to go on board, and fail over before him to the other fide of the Lake over against Bethsaida, where he then was, while he himself ftaid to difmifs the Multitude. After which, understanding that feveral of thofe whom he had thus miraculously treated were refolv'd to take him by force, and proclaim him King over them, he withdrew into a Mountain alone to fruftrate their defign, and that he might be uninterrupted in his Devotion. The Apoftles in the mean time, Gg who |