alſo might be better ſchooled in the faith of his power and glory. The reaſon why he ſent the multitude away, is ſet down in the goſpel written by John chap. vi. 26. When the multitude comes again, Verily, verily, I ſay unto you, ye ſeek me, not becauſe you ſaw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Compare it with that in the 15th verſe. When Jesus Chriſt therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himſelf alone.
He knew, that for all that they had ſeen and heard of his word and miracles, they were of a very carnal diſpoſition. and ſeeking to eſtabliſh to themſelves carnal proſperity and peace: therefore he ſent them away for a time.
From the connection of theſe two hiſtories, and from the ſcope of the whole, we offer you one point of doctrine; that the Lord Jeſus Chriſt is oft times, and ordinarily pleaſed after ſpecial manifeſtations of his power and glory in his church, and amongſt his people to exerciſe them with ſpecial pieces of trial, and troubles, and ſtorms. After his doing of great work for their comfort, he is ordinarily pleaſed, to raiſe great and dreadful ſtorms and tempeſts, for their exerciſe and trial. So here when he hath, in a moſt comfortable and kindly way, banqueted them, and revealed much of his power and love in ſo doing, he ſends them a ſtorm and tempeſt, on the back of it, and will have an interruption of his doctrine and miracles for a time, wherein they are all like to be drowned.
1ſt Inſtance. There are many inſtances in the word, of the Lord’s dealing thus; look in the books of Moſes, what follows on the back of that glorious deliverance, that the Lord gave to the people of Iſrael out of Egypt: they are exerciſed forty years in the wilderneſs, in which they had many a ſad day, ere they entered the land of Canaan.
2d Inſt. The like we may ſee in the church of Iſrael, I Sam. vii. The.Lord gave a great deliverance from the Philiſtines by the miniſtry of his ſervant Samuel
