Let not this second miracle of feeding the multitude be read without effect. When you know of a truth what your work is, and your own utter inability to accomplish it, you will be apt to say, Whence can this be? How shall such a weak creature as I am be strengthened for it, and carried happily through it? The answer is here; by that Jesus, who supplied the wants of above five thousand at one time, and four thousand at another, by an act of his Almighty, power.

SECTION XXXIX.

Chap. xvi. ver. 1—12.

CHRIST WARNS AGAINST THE PHARISEES.

1. The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.

These men were of opposite principles, but good friends upon this occasion, and joining cordially against Christ. The world is always the same; and those who are in it, though they can agree in nothing else, are always united in the same design of running down the truth, and opposing the power of godliness, as it is in Jesus. They tempted Christ; thinking to try his power to the utmost, and not doubting but he would fail in the attempt. When we have no mind to be convinced, we are always calling for further evidence.

"Desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven." Probably they meant such as the darkness which Moses brought upon Egypt, the hailstones which Joshua obtained from heaven; or the rain which followed Elijah's prayer. In comparison of these they pretended to undervalue his miracles of healing, and would not see the finger of God in them.

2. He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.

Natural knowledge, or acuteness, and spiritual discernment, are different things; and the pride of the former often excludes the latter.

3. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to-day for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

He charged them as hypocrites, because they pretended a zeal for God, and regard for his truth, but were ignorant of themselves, and inwardly averse from both.

They might have discovered the signs of the times if they had been willing. Though Christ appeared at that time which was foretold by the prophets, and they themselves expected the coming of the Messiah just at that period, notwithstanding the preaching of John the Baptist, and his own miracles and doctrine, their hearts were shut against him; and, therefore, no proof was sufficient to open their eyes. Good Lord, direct us to the cause of our standing out against thee. Yea, thou dost here lead us to the root of all our hardness and unbelief; it is an evil and adulterous heart, divorcing itself from God, and cleaving to the world.

4. A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas.

In his resurrection. No sign from heaven in their sense, but as great and convincing as any sign from heaven could be.

4. And he left them, and departed.

How dreadful! What are we, when Christ leaves us? It is just as if the sun were to fall from heaven all at once. This is your condition, and the darkness which is upon your souls is greater than can be expressed, if you are not yet come to him. For it is all one, whether he leaves us, or we keep ourselves from him. Let us all examine ourselves.

What do we want from him? What has he done, what one thing did we ever desire him to do for us; saying to him, with a feeling heart, and as earnest a prayer as if our life depended upon it, Lord, help me?

5. And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.

6. Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

The Pharisees, though strict in their principles, were proud, self-conceited, and disposed to justify themselves; and as such, all they did, or could do, was to make clean the outside of the cup. The Sadducees were loose in their notions of religion. He bids them beware of both. You know that leaven works the whole lump into its own nature. It is, therefore, of great consequence to us what doctrines we admit.

7. And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.

What slowness of apprehension and incredulity in the disciples! Whence could it be, but because the Spirit was not yet given?

8. Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?

Jesus does not need to be taught what is in our hearts. We know this, and yet have no dread of his piercing eye.

From the latter part of the verse, observe the cause of our misunderstanding, or reasoning wrong about what he says to us; it is the defect, or want of faith.

9. Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how baskets many took up ye ? 10. Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how

many baskets ye took up?

11. How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees ?

12. Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

Do we understand what he would have us to understand of himself, and of his doctrine? If not, to what is it owing? Do we use the means to understand-reading, hearing, meditation, conference, prayer, and all in sincerity?

SECTION XL.

Chap. xvi. ver. 13-19.

PETER'S CONFESSION OF CHRIST.

13. When Jesus came into the coasts of Cæsarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am ?

That Son of man in an eminent sense, who was seen by Daniel, chap. vii. ver. 13. "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Antient of days, and they brought him near before him." The same is our spiritual Father, the head of a new race of children, and the restorer of mankind to their first happy state in God, uniting them to himself by faith, and himself to them by the Spirit.

14. And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist; some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

It is not of much consequence what this or that man says. What is our knowledge and belief of Christ, and how far is it wrought into the habit of our souls? Nothing else can do us any good.

15. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am ? Have you the answer ready?

16. And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Lord, help here. Here is the greatest of all blessings presented to our view. Now, now prove and search us with this word.

17. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

We

Flesh and blood never revealed this to any man. may, by teaching, inquiry, and consideration of proofs, be persuaded that Jesus is the Christ, and we should be very unreasonable if we were not; but his being revealed, and embraced as a Saviour, giving rest to the conscience, and purifying the heart to obedience and love of the truth, is the work of God in every man; and when we can say truly, effectually, practically, that Jesus is the Lord, we may be as sure it is by the Holy Ghost, and by a faith of God's gift, as that we did not make ourselves. And now the minister of Christ may say, Blessed art thou, whosoever thou art, to whom Christ, the Son of the living God, is thus revealed.

18. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my chu ; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

"Thou art Peter," worthy of the name I have given thee, a foundation stone of the spiritual edifice, the church. were all the apostles, Eph. ii. 20. "And upon this rock I will build my church." Peter might have more faith, more zeal, and more notice taken of him by Christ, than the other apostles; but the conclusion that he had more power, will by no means hold; and much less that the bishops of Rome, if Peter ever was bishop there, succeed to it. It may also be observed, that Christ himself is the chief corner stone of his church; and, it is not improbable that, in speaking the words, he pointed to himself.

"And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

VOL. I.

X