the wilderness, feeds and nourishes the souls of men by his heavenly grace. He is Himself the bread of life which came down from heaven. As such, we, his ministers, endeavour to convince you of his adaptation to your spiritual necessities, while we pray that we may experience that adaptation to our own. We urge and importune you to apply to Him earnestly and constantly.-But we know full well that without his special blessing our efforts will be altogether ineffectual. May He, beloved, grant to you all a spiritual appetite,-a craving desire for Himself and his heavenly communications, as the proper sustenance of your immortal souls ;-and may He cause his waiting people, fed by his Word and strengthened by his Spirit, to grow up in Him, unto everlasting life; then will He give them to eat of the hidden manna, in the presence of his glory, and amid the countless multitude of the redeemed in his celestial kingdom. There

they shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

DISCOURSE XXVI.

JESUS WALKING ON THE SEA.

MATTHEW XIV. 33.

Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

We have already seen with what majestic authority and dignified composure our Saviour stilled the raging of the sea, and hushed the tempestuous winds by which it had been lashed into a tremendous storm. We have now to contemplate another instance in which his power was still more remarkably displayed on the bosom of the deep: an instance, in which he not only at length caused the tempest to subside, but previously to his so doing, literally surmounted the storm; treading upon the surface of the agitated waters, as if he had been supported by a pavement of adamant beneath his feet.

In directing our attention to this subject, with earnest prayer for the Divine guidance and blessing, we propose,

I. In the first place, To SURVEY THE NARRATIVE: and,

II. Secondly, TO DEDUCE FROM IT SOME TOPICS

OF GENERAL INSTRUCTION.

I. Let us SURVEY THE NARRATIVE.

"And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; It is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God."

Our Lord had just before miraculously sustained a multitude consisting of several thousand persons, in

bich a nanner as 11 lære carnced Sem that he was The Messad, and excited ʼn their minds an arient testre immediacy 1: rest him with the digalty and bonours of a temporal king, in which capaeity they expected the promised Deverer to appear among them: To prevent the commotion, and the many erl crosegpences, which would have ensued, had the people been permitted to pursue their object, our Lori determined to disperse them; which he would readily do, either by the general influence which he possessed over them, or by some special power which would over-awe them into full compliance with his will. Hence he "constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away." Probably they expected that he would shortly follow them in a smaller vessel, when his immediate object should have been effected.

It appears, however, that when he had dismissed the multitudes, he sought retirement for the purpose of private devotion. In this, as in other respects, he has "left us an example, that we should follow his steps." How few, alas! are habitually attentive to this most important duty,-this highly interesting and salutary exercise. If, in regard to his human nature and mediatorial office, it was necessary for our blessed Lord himself, who was holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners," to withdraw himself from all earthly society, for the purpose of secret communica

1 See John vi. 15.

tion with his heavenly Father,—how diligent should we be in cultivating such communication, who are naturally disposed to that which is polluted, injurious, and contaminating, and therefore stand in peculiar need of his special grace to sanctify, direct, and govern us! This holy exercise was, doubtless, both delightful and refreshing to Jesus; and it will assuredly be so to those also who habitually engage in it under the influence of the same principles by which His devotions were regulated.

While our Lord was thus occupied, the ship in which his disciples were conveyed, was pursuing its course with much difficulty;-it was "tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary." This, we doubt not, was providentially appointed, that Jesus might again shew his Divine power, and that the faith of his disciples might, in the issue, be still more confirmed.

In the fourth watch of the night," therefore, that is, about three o'clock in the morning, he "went unto them, walking on the sea."

Already, we may suppose, they had been not a little disquieted by the conflict of the winds and waves, in the dreary sullenness of the night, and at a time when they were anxious on account of the absence of their Master. We cannot be surprised, however, that their alarm should be increased, when they first obtained a sight of Jesus approaching them in so extraordinary a manner. Their view of him would probably for some time be very indistinct; and though they had frequently seen wonderful and irrefragable evidences of his omnipotence, it would not