:

said, "send them away, that they may go into the country round about and into the villages and buy bread for they have nothing to eat." Jesus immediately asked, "How many loaves have ye? Go and see. And when they knew, they say five and two fishes." Then he commanded them to make all sit down on the green grass, " And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds and by fifties: And when he had taken the five loaves and two fishes, he looked up to heaven and blessed and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them and the two fishes divided he among them all: And they did all eat and were filled: And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes: And they that did eat of the loaves were five thousand."

Jesus then sent his disciples in a boat to the other side of the lake, and after sending the multitude of people to their homes, he went up into a mountain by himself, to pray. Meantime the boat had reached the middle of the lake where it was tossed about by the 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."

Upon one occasion when the Pharisees saw the disciples of Jesus plucking the ears of corn, as they passed along, to satisfy their hunger, on a sabbath day, they asked Jesus why he allowed them to do that which was not lawful: he explained to them that the sabbath was made for man and not man for the sabbath. "Therefore the Son of Man is Lord also of the Sabbath." When he went into the

syn

And

agogue, he found there a man with a withered hand, and the pharisees watched to see if he would heal him on the sabbath day. Jesus said to them "What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it and lift it out; How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath day. Then saith he to the man, "Stretch forth thine hand. he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other." Again Jesus said to the Jews, "If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins." They said to him, "Who art thou ?” Jesus answered, "Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning. I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true, and I speak to the world, those things which I have heard of him."-Then Jesus said, "When ye have lifted up the Son of Man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself, but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.". "Which of you convinceth me of sin? and if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God hears God's words: ye

therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God." The Jews became very angry when they heard him say this, and said to him "Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?" Jesus answered, I have not a devil, but I honour my Father and ye do dishonour me. And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. Verily, verily, I say unto you, if a man keep my saying he shall never see death." Then the Jews said again, "Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste death. Art thou greater than our Father Abraham which is dead? and the Prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? Jesus answered " If I honour myself my honour is nothing, it is my Father that honoureth me, of whom ye say that he is your God yet ye have not known him; but I know him, and if I should say I know him not, I shall be a liar, like unto you: but I know him and keep his saying. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it, and was glad." But the Jews said to him, "Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?" Jesus answered "Verily ve

rily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” "Then took they up stones to cast at him." For the Jews who believed Jesus to be only a human being, and many of whom could remember his birth, thought that he proved himself a liar, when he said that he had existed before Abraham, who had lived so many hundred years before.

66

Jesus returned again to the sea of Tiberias and taught the people from a boat, whilst they remained on the shore. He spoke to them the following parable. Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth : and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns: and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some a hundred fold, some sixty fold, some thirty fold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear."

Jesus, afterwards explained to his disciples, the meaning of this parable: he said, "When any one