66

of his own authority, equal or superior to that which Moses had given to their fathers, respecting his mission. Jesus denies that Moses gave them that bread from heaven. It was the gift of God, and prefigured “his unspeakable gift;" for which, O my soul, render unto him thy most ardent thanks. “ My Father giveth you the true Bread from heaven. For the Bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.” * Ah! my Saviour, teach me to cry with intelligent fervor, “ Lord, evermore give me this bread ! ”

It is life which my soul wants; life which thou alone canst afford, and thou alone canst maintain. And didst thou not come that might have life, and have it more abundantly”? Feed me, then, with thyself; and, as a living person, in renovated health, craves for the best bread, and a large supply of it, so may I hunger after thee, and by thee be filled, while I delightedly contemplate the glorious perfections of thy person and thine offices. I hear thee say, “I am the Bread of Life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger.” Lord, I come to thee; “O satisfy me with thy mercy." Excite and keep up in me a constant desire and

we

relish for thee, as the nourishment of my soul. Thus shall my meditation of thee be sweet. Thus shall I have the witness within me that I am drawn to thee by the Father; and that, believing on thee, I have everlasting life, - a life commenced in my soul now, and to continue forever. For hast thou not added, “ If any man eat of this Bread, he shall live forever”?

While others stumble at thy word, and complain of its mysterious character, may I, taught by thy Holy Spirit, O Lord, receive it in simplicity, and take much delight therein. I would know by experience the veracity of thy declaration — “ He that eateth me, even he shall live by me. As to those who were fed by manna, they are dead. Their carcasses fell in the wil. derness, smitten by the wrath of God. No condemnation awaits the believer who feeds on “ the true Bread from heaven.” No death can reach his life. To him thou “ wilt give to eat of the hidden manna," * through his pilgrimage on earth; and at last conduct him safely into that better Canaan, where he “ shall hunger no more." +

BREAD of heaven! once more descending,

Come, my fainting soul to feed;
Health and life, together blending,
Meet in thee," the living Bread.”

0! my Saviour,
Now thy board of plenty spread.

While in faith thy saints, attending,

Here thy death's memorials take,
Angels, o'er the table bending,
Gaze admire — but ne'er partake:

No such banquet
Sinless spirits ever make.

Angels' food! They taste --- adoring

Immortality's own tree:
Richer food I eat — imploring -
Feeding, O my God, on THEE.

6 Bread of God,"
Nourish, strengthen, comfort me.

Though the fig-tree may not blossom,

Nor the vine its cluster yield,
Nor the olive fill my bosom,
Nor the harvest crown my field, -

Can I perish,
With a Saviour's love revealed ?

No, ah! no; avaunt! repining;

He is more than flock or herd: Midst all earthly stores declining, Still my Saviour's voice is heard

“ I'll supply thee,
While depending on my word.”

COUNSELLOR.

MY SAVIOUR is my COUNSELLOR* and Advocate. This is one of the titles which made up his complex name of WONDERFUL, the name assigned to him by prophecy, and illustrated by the entire scheme of providence and grace. He is one of the Triune council, who are represented as deliberating upon the creation and redemption of man; a counsellor of Jehovah; and also a divine person in Jehovah. "Who," asks the prophet Isaiah,"Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or, being his counsellor, hath taught him? With whom took he counsel, and who instructed, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and showed to him the way of understanding?"+ Yes, who but a person truly and essentially divine, could sustain such an office as this?