ve been rebuked and their hearts enlarged.

Theirs is also our trial. We know we should be more helpful to others;
but in presence of the sorrowful we seem to have no word of comfort;
seeing this man and that pursuing a way the end of which is death, we
have yet no wise word of remonstrance, no loving entreaty; lives are
trifled away at our side, and we are conscious of no ability to elevate
and dignify; lives are worn out in crushing toil and misery, and we feel
helpless to aid. The habit grows upon us of expecting rather to get good
than to do good. We have long recognised that we are too little
influenced by God's grace, and only at long intervals now are we ashamed
of this; it has become our acknowledged state. We have found that we are
not the kind of people who are to influence others. Looking at our slim
faith, our stunted character, our slender knowledge, we say, "What is
this among so many?" These feelings are inevitable. No man seems to have
enough even for his own soul. But giving of what he has to others he
will find his own store increased. "There is that scattereth abroad and
yet increaseth," is the law of spiritual growth.

But the thought which shines through all others as we read this
narrative is the genial tenderness of Christ. He is here seen to be
considerate of our wants, mindful of our weaknesses, quick to calculate
our prospects and to provide for us, simple, practical, earnest in His
love. We see here how He withholds no good thing from us, but considers
and gives what we actually need. We see how reasonable it is that He
should require us to trust Him. To every fainting soul, to every one who
has wandered far and whose strength is gone, and round whom the shadows
and chills of night are gathering, He says through this miracle:
"Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread, and your
labour for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto Me, and
eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in
fatness."[25]

FOOTNOTES:

[21] At the risk of omitting points of interest, I have thought it
advisable to treat this whole representation of Christ, as far as
possible, within the limits of one chapter.

[22] Roughly speaking, L8.

[23] From Psalm lxxii. 16 the Rabbis gathered that the Messiah when He
came would renew the gift of manna.

[24] The figure of eating reminds us that the acceptance of Christ is an
act which each man must do for himself. No other man can