Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-01-16

Sermon
BY Rev.
F,tnk De Witt Talmaae. d. d.

sermon. fitting close to the annual
season of hospitality and good cheer,
the preacher reminds us Of the lesson
Of divine generosity and sympathy
taught us by the Master Of the Cali
lean hillside feast The text is John
vi, IL, Gather up the fragments that
remain that nothing be lost"
Most instructive and suggestive is
this miracle of the feeding of the 5000.
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 tho 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
II long distance. He is concerned about
them, lie Is not ike some of his fol-
lowers In the present day, who think
the church has done its whole duty
when it has looked to the spiritual
wants of the people. Give We them to
eat" he says, and out Of the meagcr
supply of five loaves and two fishes he
makes 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 it 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 nrc hum
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 it 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
our fellow men"
Christ feeding the multitude upon the
hillsdes fringing the sea Of Galilee Is
symbolica in the first place of the in
finity of Gods pardon and love. 1t Is
symbolical 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
siah they were looking for n 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 sectarlan
Christ. They are looking for Christ
) who will come holding in his hand u
Westminster confession Of faith or an
Episcopalan prayer book. But Jesus,
by breaking the bread and the fishes
for all who were ahungered proved
that he had come as worlds Christ
. and worlds Saviour
$ The People Did No. Como.
, I once read of a family In the east
who had suddenly come into great
wealth. With their money they were
able to purchase palace and have
t scores Of servants to run at their bid
- ding. They were able to have horses
Y and carriages and liveried coachmen
and footmer. But there was one thing
u they craved from their new neighbors
and that was social recognition. Sc
they prepared great banquet. They
! sent their invitations broadcast They
g did not know that the people among
+ whom they had come to live were
n proud and despised them. And wher
$ the night Of the reception arrived hard
~ one Of the guests came. There was
= the great mansion all lighted up
There were the orchestra and the wait
ing servants. There was the stately
dining room with It's polished silve
and rich viands But the rooms TO-
. the most part were empty, and thu
banquet was without any merry guests
;, That is n symbol Of the banquet which
- Christ has prepared for the world. II,
y not only prepared n spiritual banquc
y for the multitudes which sat at hi
It feet, but for all those in the cities
e about the sea of Galiee, and for all II
Is Palestine and for all who were Twin,
D In other lands, and for generations We
to be born. Oh, the provision whlcl
: Jesus has made for the redemption o
u the human race Could it be more uni
y versal in its scope?
= Christ has made provision for the re
W demptiOn Of the world to the utter
re most. His body has been broken. Th
- virtue Of his sacrifice is enough t
-, cover all the world. Could | prcsen
., TO YOU a better symbol than the loave
" and the fishes which satisfied the mul
K titudes and there was surplus O
10 twelve basketsful? One dark night
~ half clothed girl, terror stricken cir
'e timidly Knocked at the door of a Lon
don missionary, When the door wa
=, opened she said BE you the preache
~ that told us down at the mission tn
At other night that Jesus could save t
I'd the uttermost? Well come, com
IS quickly. My father came home drum
ar tonight and stabbed mother, and he |
1; In a perfect frenzy of rage He is a
~ right when he Is not drunk, but he