who at the beginning of the Night went on board, were now in the middle of the Lake fteering towards Capernaum, when on the fudden the Water began to be agitated, and their Courfe was hindred by a contrary Wind. Now Jefus was not as yet come to them. When therefore by going against the Wind they had with great difficulty rowed about five and twenty or thirty Furlongs, near the fourth Watch of the night Jefus came towards them walking upon the Water no otherwife than if it had been dry Ground, and made as if he intended to pass by them. The Difciples feeing him not far from their Boat, took him for an Apparition, and cried out for fear: for they all faw him, and were mightily aftonin'd. But

Fejus

MATTHEW.

CHA P. XIV. 27 But ftraightway Jefus fpake unto them, faying, Be of good cheer, it is I, be not afraid.

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

29 And he faid, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the fhip, he walked on the water, to go to Jefus.

30 But when he faw the wind boiftrous, he was afraid : and beginning to fink, he cried, faying, Lord fave me.

31 And immediately Jefus ftretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didft thou doubt?

32 And when they come into the fhip, the wind ceased.

were

Jefus bid them be of good comfort, telling them it was he himself whom they faw walking on the Water. Peter being in doubt whether it was Jefus or a Spectre, faid unto him, If thou art Jefus, command me to come unto thee walking on the water, as thou thy felf doft. Jefus ftraitway commanded him; and Peter going out of the Boat, began to walk towards him on the Surface of the Water, as if it had been dry Ground. The Wind in the mean time rofe, and his Courage, and the Faith he had in Jefus, which was attended with a miraculous Power of walking on the Water, failing him, his Steps gave way; and finding himself sinking, he cried out with a foud voice to Jefus to come to his affiftance.

Jefus immediately came to him, and stretching out his hand, rais'd him to the top of the water, rebuking him for his diftruft, which was the only reafon of his finking. Afterwards Jefus and Peter, at the request of the other Apostles, came into the Boat. Now the Wind, which, as we have already faid, was contrary, Gg a feli

fell all on the fudden, and they came in a fhort time to the place they fteer'd to Both thefe Miracles fill'd them with the greatest admiration of their Mafter, of whom they now conceiv'd a much more noble Idea than they had before: for fo ftupid were they, that the miraculous feeding of five thousand men with five Loaves and two fmall Fishes, had made no Impreffion on them: But having feen him walking on the Water, they came to him, and fell down at his feet with this exclamation, Truly thou art the Son of God, or the Meffiah. Being landed not far from Capernaum in the Country of Gennefareth, which alfo gives name to the Lake, Jefus was prefently known by the Inhabitants, and a world of people flock'd to him from all parts: for they that had firft feen him prefently told their Neighbours that that strange Perfon who had done fo many Miracles was again come into thofe parts, the report of which occafion'd abundance of fick people to be brought

unto

unto him in their Beds; and wherever he went in City, or Country, in the Streets and High Roads, the Sick were prefented to him, and they defir'd they might be permitted to touch but the Hem of his Garment, and as many as touch'd it were cur'd of their Infirmities.

CHAP. XXXIII.

A Multitude follow Jefus from the other fide of the Lake, and pass over to Capernaum, whom Jefus inftructs in the Synagogue, telling them in a long, tho figurative Difcourfe, that they ought to be follicitous after fpiritual and not corporeal Food; and that he himself was the Bread that would nourish them. The Jews, who expected the Meffiah should establish a terrestrial Government among them, are offended at his Doctrine, and defert him. He shows who they be that come to hear him with an honeft difpofition, and asks his Apoftles whether they also would depart from him. Peter in the name of all of them affures him of the contrary, adding also a remarkable reafon of his Conftancy. Nevertheless Jefus tells them, one of 'em would be-· tray him.

THE

HE Multitude that remain'd in the Territory of Bethfaida, taking notice there was but one Boat on that fide the Lake when the Apoftles put off from fhore, and knowing that Jefus was. left behind, they fought for him in all the

neighbour...

faw that there was none other boat there, fave that one whereinto his disciples were entred, and that Jefus went not with his difciples into the boat, but that his difciples 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 faw that Jefus was not there, neither his difciples, they alfo took shipping, and came to Capernaum, feeking for Jefus.

25 And when they had found him on the other fide of the fea, they faid to him, Rabbi, when cameft thou hither?

26 Jefus answered them, and faid, Verily verily, I fay unto you, Ye feek me, not because ye faw the miracles, but becaufe ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.

neighbouring Villages, not in the leaft imagining he had paffed the Lake. They were very much affected with the Supper with which Jefus had entertain'd 'em ; and his great Liberality, together with the hopes of yet greater Rewards, made them very earnest to proclaim him King. While they thus fought after him in vain, there came a great many Boats from Tiberias, not far from the place where they had been fed by Jefus. Several of the people therefore, not finding Jesus nor any of his Apoftles, came over in thefe Boats to Capernaum in queft of him. When they had found him, they told him how they had look'd for him on the other fide of the Lake, and ask'd him how long he had bin on this fide. Jefus, who knew that many of them followed him, not because of the Miracles he wrought, nor out of a defire of being inftructed by him, told 'em they did not feek after him on account of his Miracles, which were fo many Arguments of his divine Commission, but by reafon he had fo plentifully fed them. Now, faid he, your great care fhould

be,