Evening journal., 1910-05-28

The Gospels give us two distinctly diff
ferent miracles of feeding the multitude
i'm the wilderness places. on one occasion
the number fed was five thousand and on
the other four thousand. In ono instance
Il was a lad who provided five small bar
ley cakes and two fishes; in tho other case
the disciples themselves had seven loaves
and q few fishes. In one instance twelve
baskets fun of fragments were gathered
after the repast, in the other seven bas-
kets full. St. Matthews Gospel records
both OF these miracles. In both instances
there was a seeming necessity for the
miracle, and the necessity prompted our
lords compassion and the use of the
Divine power. II will be noticed that in
these instances the Master used for tho
benefit Of others the special powers COM
municated TO him at the time Of his bap-
tism through the descent Of the Holy
Spirit; but We recall that Jesus refused
TO use this same power selhshly for his
own comfort. even when he hungered af-
ter having spent forty days in the wilder
ness at the outstart of his work, study
ing the Scriptures to know the mind Of
the Lord, how he should suffer and be-
como the Mediator OF the New Coven-
ant
Not all, even Of those who associated
with our Lord. understood, appreciated,
believed I'm his wonderful miracles. Where
there is a desire 10 disbolieve there is
also a possibility. Indeed. the Scriptures
arc evidently quite true in their assur-
ances that faith is a difficult matter at tho
present time and that for this very rea-
son It is specially appreciated Of tho Lord
I'm those who profess to be his followers.
The Scriptures intimate that faith is a
gift of God. while, at the same time, IL is
a matter Of our own exercise. 1t is for
God TO set forth tho facts and bring them
TO our attention. 1t IS for us to be able
TO appreciate those facts and 10 exercise
the faith corresponding As tho Scriptures
declare. "Alf men have hot faith" with
out faith It is not possible 10 please Cod"
According to thy faith be It unto thee"
God has not made faith equally possible
to all, in that he has not given mankind
the same opportunities for exercising
faith by not giving all the same degree Of
knowledge upon which 10 base faith. And
even amongst those who have the neces-
sary knowledge. faith must depend con
siderably upon the structure Of the brain.
Some people have scarcely anything Of
faith; others with a different structure OF
BRAIN are inclined 10 believe too much-to
be credulous and easily hoaXed
While God declares that none can be Of
his Church now being called unless they
have faith. including the necessary knowi-
edge as a basis for if, yet he does not say
that those who have not the knowledge
and have not the faith will, ON that ac-
count. be turned over 20 demons for eter-
nal torture ON the contrary such already
suffer a measure OF deprivation of JOY and
Of blessing. Failure on their part to ex-
ercise faith should not bring upon them
any additional disadvantages. God has, dc.
creed that faith shall some by hearing
and hearing by tho Word OF Cod" and
that none can believe except they hear
and that none but the believing will have
part In the Church's salvation now being
effected. But he has equally decreed and
arranged for the great mass of man
kind who have never had the sufhcienc,
of knowledge ana of faith. that all may
yet come to a salvable condition. Indeed
God has specially made the way of faitl
in this age a narrow one that thereb,
he may select q very special c.ass. Bu
these selected or elected ones. as IN,
Scriptures show are 10 he the Roya
Priests Of the next age. who viii enlight
en- and instruct ally Tire families OF th'
earth ThenA AL Us nind syss shall h'