Page:God Manifest.djvu/213

Rh is exerted ever to save and to bless: that the action of His omnipotence is guided ever by His wisdom and love: that if He casts down even the spirits of evil, it is only in mercy, to deliver men from their power. We here learn, too, what is needed to make that power operative in us, namely, faith, trust in the manifested God, even Jesus Christ: had we but such faith, His Spirit would flow into us, and purify and save us.

We have, thus, beheld Jesus in His character of controler of the elements, as Ruler of the universe material and spiritual;—let us now view Him in the still higher attribute of Creator. We find in the gospel of John the following striking relation: "When Jesus then had lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto Him, He saith unto Philip, 'Whence shall we buy bread that these may eat?' And this He said to prove him: for He Himself knew what He would do. Philip answered Him, 'Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.' One of His disciples saith unto Him, 'There is a lad here, who has five barley-loaves and two small fishes: but what are these among so many?' And Jesus said, 'Make the men sit down.' Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves; and when He had given thanks, He distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. When they were filled. He said unto His disciples, 'Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.' Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley-loaves, which remained over and