The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-03-17
REFRESHMENTS.
Selected for The Times.)

down."-St. la vi, IT,
1t was on the farther side of the Sea
of Gaii,cc, a region which Christ seldom
visited, and which is to-day wilderness.
A multitude had followed the Lord across
the water and were filling the usually
empty place Mith crowd and clamor 1iil
confusion. Curiosity was al. alive. What
lie had done last, what He would do
next, was fls ing about in question and
answer from mouth TO mouth. The
scene was full OF movement. Every man
was on his feet. Old friends were meet
ing. christs adherents were pleading
for Him. The enemies OF Christ were
violently claiming that He WAS an 1aops-
tor Gestures were furious, words came
fast; faces slowed; eyes spariled; feet
hurried back and forth. Such is The pic
lure which seems to paint itself before
us as We read the FIRST verses of this
sixth chapter of ST. John.
And then come a change. The mid
day sun grows hot Hunger and 1aIGua
take possession of these excited frames.
The need OF rest overcomes the eager
ness OF action. Out OF the midst Of the
tagging tumult is heard the calm voice
OF Jesus, saying to those who are near
Him, MAX; the men sit down.. Aud
the disciples pass back and forth through
The crowd, doing their Masters will, until
the 5000 men are seated on the grass
Quiet reigns in the place of noise, repose
instead OF action. Faces flushed
moment age have .ecome calm. and
w-lat is really at the bottom OF it ell is
i,.a; Il change has taken place in tho
crowd itself. From intense and prolonged
activity it has become receptive. 1t is
waitin., t. be fed. not only with the bar
ley luaves and fishes. The presence OF
jesus is there, and is felt by all. BY
and by the words of Christ fall on their
hearts, and as they listen they receive
Them. amd presently from the seated ranks
breaks forth the declaration. This is
indeed that prophet that should como into
the world" This is the great meaning
which 1 find in the command of Jesus.
Make the men sit down. 1t is the
change from the active and restless to
The quiet and receptive state. from the
condition i'll which all life was flowing
outward. in larger self-assertion, to the
other, influenced and fed and blessed by
the higher, richer power sent forth from
God.
Take. as an illustration. man. we will
say. who has come from Capernaum
across the lake and followed Jesus here.
He may be friend or foe, but he is
intensely in earnest He wants to say
something to do something, to express
himself in some way. He is eager, active,
confident. vehement Presently one of
the discplcs:Andrew, ii may be. or
.Iohn-comcs To him. as he was standing
violently arguing, or as he was rushing
hitler and thitIler, shouting out his orac-
rlar judgment. and says to him: THE
Master bids You sit down ana wait. He
Will feed YOU Can You not see the
change which comes over the man and
expressed in his face? In Il moment he
finds himself silent-ovcrwhelmed in the
presence of a great, divine graciousness,
a wisdom and love and power which is
active for him. The sense Of being fed,
of having another's wealth and thought
and care poured forth on him, takes pos
session of his soul. With the supply the
consciousness of needing to be fed grows
deeper Self-suf1iciency, self-assertion,
fades away and is lost. Humility. obedi-
ence and faith fill his whole nature. 1t
is a new man, that hardly knows the
old All this deep, true life has come
since he heard the word OF Jesus and
obcyed it.
No life IS complete which does not some
times sit and trustfully wait to be fed
i,g God. Are there not many times in
our lives when this same necessity is
laid on Us all"
The days of childhood, before action
has begun; the days Of old age, when
action is over; III both of these the soul
is sitting before God.
For childhood is full of wonder and
expectancy. Sitting al the fathers knee,
looking up into his face-that is its truest
picture.
Old age is not at its best if it is simply
retrospective. It has Travelled across The
continent. and now stands upon the Dor
der of the great sea. God is speaking
ocean and the unknown land beyond. The
same is true of the noontide OF life, when
Il great dismay. a great discovery, great
joy, or sorrow, visits it
The day when your great bereavement
came-thc day when death first visited
your honac-the day When. being weak
and III, YOU did not so To Your pace OF
business-the Very streets which YOU
knew SO We'll seemed strange to YOU, as
YOU looked out OF The window; those
were days when God swas feeding you.
You lost the sense of being one who
MAS TO act. and You. became one for
whom God was to do all.
The effective life and the receptive life
are one. No sweep OF the arm that does
some work for God hut harests. also,
some more of the truth Of God and helps
, TO place j; in the eternal garner.
Seek your lifes nourshment in your
life,s work Do not think that after
YOU have bought, or sold. or studied. or