Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1908-01-18
Caln1age
Sermon
BY Rev.
Frank De Witt Talmsse. d. ID.


the preacher reminds us OF the lessor
of divine generosity and sympathy
taught US by the Master OF the Gall
lean hillside feast. The text is JONI
vi. IL, Gather up the fragments tha
remain that nothing be lost"
Most instructive and suggestive l
this miracle Of the feeding Of the 1000
A great throng has followed Jesus In
to the desert. They have seen the
blind eyes opened, the leper cured, the
maniac restored, and they wonder what
he will do next. They are so absorbed
watching him and listening to him
that they forget their food forget how
far they are away from any place
where 1t Is sold. Jesus looks around
on the eager faces and thinks OF their
need. "Send them away to get food"
say his disciples when he mentions
their hunger. But Jesus says they
are faint and many of them came from
a long distance. He is concerned about
them. He is not like some of his fol-
lowers In the present day, who think
the church has done Its whole duty
when Il has looked to the spiritual
wants Of the people. "Give We them to
eat" he says, and out Of the meager
supply of FIVE loaves and two fishes he
makes a bountiful repast sufficient FOR
the whole company, and there are
twelve basketsful remaining when all
have been satisfied. He never does
anything by halves. He gives abun-
dance, and he gives 1t freely. AS he
said about the spiritual life, II am
come that they might have life and
that they might have 1t more abun-
dainty"
Then Jesus said: There are hun
dreds of poor people in yonder towns
of Capernaum and Magdala and II
berias. Let us not waste this food.
Let US gather up all and give 1t to
those who would be glad to eat It."
So the disciples went among the people
and gathered up the wholesome bread
and fish. When all was in, there were
twelve basketfuls. Then methinks
Jesus arose and said: "If there are any
here who know OF poor people In yon'
der towns who need this food wish
they would come forward and take
some of this fish and bread to them.
God never wants us to waste that
which can sustain life and be OF use to
eur fellow men,"
Christ feeding the multitude upon the
hillsides fringlng the sea Of Galilee Is
symbolical in the first place OF the In
finity Of Gods pardon and love. 1t Is
symbollcal OF that Offering which
Christ made when he gave his body
and shed his blood to redeem all who
will come to his mercy seat. When
the Jews were looking for their Mes
slab they we're looking for Hebrew
Christ. They were not looking for a
Christ to save the barbarian and the
Greek. People still make that mistake
they are looking for a sectarian
Christ. They are looking for Christ
who will come holding in his hand a
Westminster confession Of faith or an
Episcopalian prayer book. But Jesus
by breaking the bread and the fishes
for all who were ahungered, proved
that he had come as a worlds Christ
and a worlds Saviour.
The People Did Not Come.
once read of a family In the east
who had suddenly come into great
wealth. With their money they were
able to purchase a palace and have
scores of servants to run at their bid
ding. They were able to have horses
and carriages and liyeried coachmen
and footmen. But there was one thing
| they craved from their new neighbors,
| and that was social recognition. SO
| they prepared a great banquet They
sent their invitations broadcast. They
did not know that the people among
whom they had come to live were
proud and despised them. And when
the night of the reception arrived hard
| ly one Of the guests came. There was
| the great mansion all lighted up
| There were the orchestra and the walt
| ing servants. There was the stately
dining room with its polished silver
and rich viands. But the rooms Tor
the most part were empty, and the
banquet was without any merry guests
That is a symbol of the banquet which
Christ has prepared for the world. He
not only prepared spiritual banquet
for the multitudes which sat at his
feet. but for all those In the cities
about the sea Of Galilee, and for all In
Palestine, and for all who were living
In other lands, and for generations vel
to be born. Oh the provision which
Jesus has made for the redemption ol
the human race! Could 1t be more uni
versal In its scope?
Christ has made provision for the re
demptlon Of the world to the utter
most. His body has been broken. The
virtue of his sacrifice Is enough t(
cover all the world. Could presen
to you better symbol than the loave'
and the fishes which satisfied the mul
titudes, and there was surplus o.
twelve basketsful? One dark night
half clothed girl terror stricken girl
tirnidly knocked at the door OF Lon
don missionary. When the door wal
opened she said: "Be you the preache
that told US down at the mission tn
other night that Jesus could save t
the uttermost? Well, come; COM
quickly. My father came home DRUM
tonight and stabbed mother, and he Il
IN perfect frenzy OF rage. He Is al
neht when he 10 not drunk. but he Il
frunk now, and ! want Jesus TO saw
Mn"
The missionary quickly put on hi
clothes and started. There In q poo
tenement he found the bleeding wifi
lying upon q bed Of straw. There wa
the intoxicated husband, who had stat
bed her because she had nothing TO
,,,faetnro ftrrT1Q1 4