is not hidden as to its effects, its fruits. But as the work throughout of a supernatural One-the Holy Spirit of God-there are many things. about it which flesh and blood can never understand. I prefer the common rendering of verse 8 to that which gives the clause thus"The Spirit bloweth where he willeth." The power of the comparison is lost in this translation. John was baptizing in Enon near to Salim, because there was much water there. "Much water," literally, "many streams.” The common people had heard him gladly. He was now in an unfrequented and secluded place on the eastern side of the sea of Galilee. Luke informs us that "he went privately into a desert place belonging to a city called Bethsaida" (ix. 10). Mark, referring to the same time and circumstances, says that when they were on the western side of the sea, Jesus addressed them, saying-"Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest awhile." And he adds "They departed into a desert place by ship privately" (vi. 31, 32). Thus we can trace them to the wilderness on the north-east of the lake of Tiberias, and south of Bethsaida Julias. Luke also tells us that "the people followed him, that he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God." The multitudes appear to have chiefly been of the common people, one of whom had taken with him barley bread (vi. 9) as a supply for himself and some friend. The barley loaf was used chiefly by the poorer and industrious classes. The bread of the rich was made from wheaten flour. See under Ruth i. 22, ii. 4; and Ezekiel iv. 12. The Lord in his sovereignty chose the five barley loaves as the basis, as it were, of the miracle. The result is before us. The people were completely satisfied, and twelve baskets were filled with the fragments, "which remained over and above unto them that had eaten." Like the lad's loaves the fare provided by the miracle was of the homeliest kind, but it was that which constituted the chief article of bread diet of the people whose wants he had thus satisfied. In 2 Kings iv. 42-44, we meet with the Spirit of Jesus enabling Elisha, in circumstances suggestive of those described here, by a miracle to feed a hundred men "And there came a man from Baal-shalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the first-fruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in the husk thereof: and he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat. And his servitor said, What! should I set this before an hundred men? He said again, Give the people, that they may eat for thus saith the Lord, They shall eat, and shall leave |