May 11

John vi. — 22. The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone;

23. (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks;)

24. When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.

25. And, when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?

26. Jesus answered them, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves and were filled.

27. Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you; for him hath God the Father sealed.

There are natures in which the love of the marvellous could never be satisfied. Each miracle would create a demand for another; and, if miracles were continually repeated to meet this craving of credulous minds, they would soon become like the everyday facts of Nature. The very people who had witnessed the power of Jesus in healing all manner of diseases, and had been fed by the miracle of the loaves and fishes, now demanded "a sign" that his works were of God; for instance, a shower of manna from heaven. Jesus, who read their hearts, knew that their running after him, and their professed eagerness for something to assure their faith, were not prompted by a desire to be brought nearer to God, but by curiosity; by love of excitement and adventure; by the hope of profiting in some way by his wonderful works.

28. Then said they unto him, What shall we do that we might work the works of God?

29. Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

30. They said therefore unto him, What sign showest thou, then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?

31. Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

32. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.

33. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

34. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

35. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

36. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.

But faith is a higher evidence of "the work of God" than miracle. This lifts the soul into that spiritual sphere of life from which the power of miracle descends; and men who today imagine that signs from heaven would cause them to believe, if only they would believe upon what Christ has done and said, would find in their experience a proof of God's work as strong as the raising of the dead. A tithe, a thousandth part, of the labor they put into inquiries and endeavors about religion, if concentrated upon the simple act of faith, would secure to them the "true bread from heaven," the source and the pledge of everlasting life. So simple, so sure, so satisfying, is the substance of all true religion, — faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 118, 177, 188.

Thy hands, O Lord! have made us and fashioned us: give us understanding, that we may learn thy commandments. By thy wisdom we have been fearfully and wonderfully made; by thine ever-watchful providence we have been preserved. Oh! give us thy grace, that the lives which thou hast bestowed and prolonged may be dedicated to thy service. Take not thy Holy Spirit from us. Perfect thy strength in our weakness. Put into our minds good desires; and, by thy continual help, enable us to bring them to good effect.

We ask thy grace and guidance, O Lord! for the duties of another day. Thou hast appointed unto us our different stations; thou hast placed us where we are. Give us cheerful and contented minds, and keep us from every faithless murmuring thought. Deliver us from a spirit of sloth and self-indulgence. Make us ready for every

good word and work. May we all be filled with one great and earnest desire to serve and love and honor thee! and, loving thee above all others, may we love one another with a pure heart fervently!

Lord, bless our country, and let it be established in righteousness. Grant unto all in authority over us true wisdom: direct all their plans and counsels for the promotion of thy glory, and the good of thy Church and people.

Be gracious to our neighbors. Oh, may thy Word and thy truth be spread and honored in the midst of us! Hasten the glorious day when the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ: in whose name we offer up these our prayers, and to whom be glory and honor and dominion, world without end. Amen.