the soldier, the publican, the Pharisee, or the prince.

He would have put him to death.Wicked men are often irritated and enraged by faithful reproofs. See 1 Kings xxii. 8; Prov. ix. 8; xv. 10, 12. He feared the multitude.-We often find that those persons who cast off the fear of God are slaves to the fear of man.-Many men, who would not hesitate to commit sin, on its own account, and in the sight of God, are yet restrained from the commission of unholy deeds by respect to the customs or opinions of men, and with a view to their own character or secular interests. This is a blessing and a safeguard to society; but it is nothing in favour of ungodly men themselves.

He promised with an oath, &c.This was either the result of design, in order that Herod might find an excuse for doing what he was otherwise afraid to do; or else it was an effect of excessive and unhallowed excitement occasioned by carnal mirth and revelry.-A promissory oath, or vow, of the kind here described, is, of itself, vain and sinful. Such oaths should be, on all accounts, avoided. See Prov. vi. 2; Eccl. v. 6; ix. 2; Matt. v. 34.

And she, being before instructed, &c. -Awful depths of human depravity!

For the oath's sake.-Here a pretended reverence for God forms an excuse for a real and direct breach of the law of God. This is no uncommon case. Such are the depths of Satan; such the deceitfulness of sin, and of the human heart.-And them which sat with him at meat.How often, in like manner, is respect or compliment to poor mortals, or what is called a point of honour, employed as an excuse for sinning against God!

And he sent, and beheaded John in prison. Thus fell the Baptist, as a martyr in the cause of God; for "he dies as truly a martyr that dies for doing his duty, as he that dies for professing the faith, and bearing witness to the truth."

And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it.—Pious men are not ashamed of their persecuted brethren; but are ready to testify respect towards them, whether living or dead. The church, in the Apostle's days, knew nothing of superstitious veneration of the relics of saints. It is remarkable that particular notice is taken of the burial of the two earliest martyrs, John the Baptist, and Stephen (Acts viii. 2).

And went and told Jesus.-Sometimes losses and troubles are made the means of sending men to Christ.

to prefer this sinful, murderous, request! A young girl so far estranged from the fear of God as to obey the wicked precept, and so far lost to all feelings of tenderness and compassion as to become the instrument of such horrid cruelty!

go to the Saviour, with faith and prayer, in seasons of distress.

HYMN.

Sing, ye redeemed of the Lord, Your great Deliverer sing; Pilgrims for Zion's city bound Be joyful in your King.

duty, under any such pretence. See Matt. vi. 31-34.

Give ye them to eat.-How could they comply with this demand? But "when Christ requires of us what of ourselves we are unable to perform, it is to show us our weakness, and to provoke us to look to Him that worketh all our works in us and for us.'

They say unto him, We have here but five loaves and two fishes.—And well might they add, What are these among so many? "It is a good thing to be properly conscious of the smallness of our own resources." "Can God provide a table in the wilderness?" It is only unbelief that answers, No.-"The eye of sense and reason sees an impossibility of those effects which faith can easily apprehend, and divine power can more easily produce."

He said, Bring them hither to me.Let us bring our temporal goods and provisions to God in Christ, imploring his blessing.-Let ministers bring to Christ those instructions and doctrines which they are about to set before their hearers as spiritual food. He commanded the multitude to sit down.

And they sat down; to partake of a bounty as yet unseen. Let us learn hence, if need be, to trust God for the supply of our temporal wants, even while the means and methods of supply may be out of sight.

He blessed, and brake.-Let us humbly and thankfully receive the creatures, and the supply of our bodily wants, as gifts from the hand of God, while we seek his blessing in the use of them. See Rom. xiv. 6; 1 Cor. x. 31; 1 Tim. iv. 4.

And gave the loaves to his disciples, &c. Thus also with regard to that spiritual food, the word of God :—it comes from Christ, and is dispensed by his ministers. They are stewards in the house of God. Matt. xxiv. 45; 1 Cor. iv. 1; xi. 23; 2 Cor. iv. 1, 2.-"It is observable that the meat was multiplied, not in the heap at first, but in the distribution of it. As the widow's oil increased in the pouring out, so here the bread in the breaking. Thus grace grows by being acted; and while other things perish in the using, spiritual gifts increase in the using." See 2 Cor. ix. 10.

breaking.

constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

23 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.

24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves for the wind was contrary.

25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

26 And when the disciples saw him 'walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

30 But when he saw the wind || boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

| stretched forth his hand and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt ?

32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.

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

34 "And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret.

35 And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased;

36 And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.

i Mark vi. 46.-k John vi. 16.- Job ix. 8-|| Or, strong.-m Ps. ii. 7. Mark i. 1. ch. xvi. 16; & xxvi. 63. Luke iv. 41. John i. 49; & vi. 69; & xi. 27. Acts viii. 37. Rom. i. 4.-n Mark vi. 53.-o ch. ix. 20. Mark iii. 10. Luke vi. 19. Acts xix. 12.

Reader. It is necessary to know the usual division of the night by watches when the Evangelist wrote, in order to understand the note of time in v. 25.-The first watch was from six o'clock in the evening till nine; the second from nine to twelve; the third from twelve to three in the morning;—and the fourth from three till six.

READER. When he had sent the

gives us an example of occasional retirement and secret prayer.-Let us dismiss the multitude of worldly thoughts and cares when we would draw near to God in holy exercises.

But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, &c.—The disciples were in a state of apparent danger. But they were in the way of duty, for they had sailed at Christ's command; and therefore they were really in safety under his protection. The Lord sometimes commands his people as it were to put to sea, even when there is a storm approaching. But this he does in wisdom and in love. The church is often tossed upon the waves of this troublesome world, but always preserved. While the ship was tossed with waves, Christ was on the mountain praying. And "it is the singular comfort of the church of God, that in all her difficulties and distresses Christ is interceding for her; when she is on the sea, conflicting with the waves, Christ is on the mountain, praying for her preservation."

In the fourth watch of the night.When the night was almost ended; not until the distress of the disciples had lasted for many hours. Sometimes the troubles of a Christian continue long; but the Saviour sends help in due time.-Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. How striking an exhibition of the deity and majesty of Christ! Job ix. 8; Ps. lxxvii. 19.-Let us remain at our post of duty as long as we can, notwithstanding difficulties or distress; and we shall have the comfort

of God's presence, and of his aid seasonably vouchsafed.

They were troubled, &c.-Sometimes, through our own ignorance, we are perplexed and disquieted even at the approach of that which is afterwards found to be an occasion of comfort or rejoicing. See Exod. iii. 6, 7; Luke i. 29.-An obscure or confused view of Christ, in his nature, work, and offices, often gives trouble instead of peace, especially in seasons of temptation or affliction. When we recognise him clearly, our fears abate.

But straightway Jesus spake unto them, &c.-The presence of Christ with us, as our friend and Saviour, is enough to banish despondency and fear. It is the privilege of faith to see Christ walking on the stormy waves, and to hear his voice speaking in accents of encouragement.

Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.-An exercise of faith, and an expression of attachment to the Saviour's person, with a desire to be ruled by his command. But we should not court danger: we should wait for calls to hazardous undertakings, instead of seeking for them. Perhaps Peter's zeal was greater than his faith:-or his selfconfidence was too great.

And he said, Come.-The Lord Jesus condescended to confer the favour and to give the sign; perceiving, no doubt, the faith and love of the apostle, although mingled with much infirmity.

He walked on the water, &c.-Thus he became sensible of the sustaining power of Christ.-But when he saw