witnessed it; for they exclaimed, in reference to Jesus, "This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world." (John vi. 14)
Consider, O man! that the Lord Jesus who wrought this miracle was indeed that prophet that should come into the world: that prophet was the Messiah, and the Messiah was no other than the Lord God of Israel who visited and redeemed his people. (Luke i. 68.) He is the Creator, Redeemer, and Preserver of his entire nation. His Love created the heavens and the earths—his Wisdom directs them, and his Power preserves them. The miracle of feeding five thousand with so small a quantity of food may strike the natural mind with wonder, and astonishment may for the moment seize his soul; but when a deeper thought urges him to a more interior reflection, he will perceive that He who created all, abundantly feeds and nourishes, every moment of time, the millions upon millions that he has brought into being; yea, and with as much certainty, too, as though he had but one to attend to.
This miracle, then, has more in it than at first sight appears: it could not have been wrought merely to shew a single instance of the Lord's power; for his love and power are constantly exhibited in the beautiful temple of the created universe, which he constantly fills with his living breath, and in which the busy hum of joyous life ceases not! The design of this miracle was to shew, not only what the Lord can do, but what he is always doing; and hence the miracle, with all its minute particulars, involves a beautiful series of heavenly instruction. Jesus took the loaves, and when he had blessed the bread by giving thanks, he
