immediately put ourselves in the wrong also. The feeling of anger then, under certain circumstances, is justifiable; but if it is allowed to remain in our hearts, or if it is accompanied by intemperate words, or by a feeling of malice, then it becomes sinful. And this is what the Apostle must have meant when he said, 'Be ye angry, and sin not; let not the sun go down upon your wrath.' Let us rather try by kind and gentle words to soften men's hearts, and win them back to God.

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Thirdly. If you have injured any one, or any one has injured you, let nothing induce you to go on at enmity with him. 'Agree with thine adversary quickly,' says our Lord, whiles thou art in the way with him.' We are in the way with him now, and he is in the way with us. We are pursuing together the same journey of life. Then let us travel on in peace with our brother; for an unreconciled temper is most hateful to God, and will effectually destroy all our comfort. And surely if our Lord here tells us that with such a temper we are not welcome at His altar,

how can we hope that He will receive us into His kingdom?

If then you chance to be at variance with your brother, be reconciled to him, whoever he may be, and whatever be the cause of enmity between you. If the evil spirit of anger has found an entrance into your heart drive it out by earnest prayer, by a penitent recollection of your own sins, and a thankful remembrance of God's love

to you.

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Lastly. Bear in mind that for every idle word, for every angry word, for every harsh word, we shall give an account; for by our words shall we be justified, and by our words we shall be condemned.' And remember too that there is an everlasting prison, where, if the door is once closed upon us, we can never come out; no, not until 'the uttermost farthing' is paid, that is, never. Thank God, we are now free. We may go to the throne of grace. We may seek God's pardon for the past. We may yet turn out of the path of anger and unkindness, into the better, happier path of love and gentleness.

Let us ponder over these words. And above all let us try and copy the beautiful example of Him, who both spoke them and also acted upon them in His daily life. His righteousness far exceedeth the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees. He was never angry with His brother without a cause. Not a hasty word, not an unkind expression, ever escaped His lips. Endeavour to be like your Master, not only when you meet with kindness and gentleness, but when you fall in with rough treatment. 'For even hereunto were ye called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that we should follow his steps; who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered he threatened not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.'

SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY.

MARK, VIII. 1-9.

In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them, I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat: and if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way; for divers of them came from far. And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness? And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven. And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people. And they had a few small fishes; and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them. So they did eat, and were filled and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets. And they that had eaten were about four thousand. And he sent them away.

IN the Four Gospels we find mention made six times over of our Lord miraculously feeding the multitude. St. Matthew gives

two accounts, St. Mark two, and St. Luke and St. John one each.

If you examine the following passages you will see that two distinct miracles were performed, and at two different times; Matt. xiv. 15-21; xv. 32-38; Mark, vi. 34–44; viii. 1-9; Luke, ix. 12-17; John, vi. 5–14. In the one case there were five thousand persons fed, and in the other four thousand. And certain other circumstances are mentioned which show that on two separate occasions the miracle was wrought.

But all doubt is removed by what our Lord said to His disciples shortly after, when He complained of their unbelief; ' Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?' Matt. xvi. 9, 10. Thus He recalls to their remembrance the two separate miracles.

In the passage now before us the second of these two miracles is related. We read of our Lord satisfying the hunger of four thousand persons with seven loaves of bread and a few small fishes, whereas on