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 Again in  this  history  I  see  an  instance  of  Christ's wondrous  power  over  the  minds  and  hearts  of  men. Orpheus, they  say,  moved  rocks  and  trees  by  the magic of  his  music,  and  birds  and  beasts  were  tamed by the  eloquence  of  Francis  of  Assisi,  but  the  music of Christ's  speech  was  more  alluring  still,  for  it  held even His  enemies  spellbound — it  led  captivity  captive. Wiser than  Solomon,  more  eloquent  than Demosthenes, never  did  man  speak  as  He,  and  hence the thousands,  forgetful  of  all  else,  followed  Him  far into the  wilderness. But the  lesson  I  would  set  before you  to-day  deals  not  with  Christ's  almighty power in  deed  or  word;  rather  it  concerns  His  sublime unselfishness,  and  His  tender  sympathy  with  the needy and  unfortunate. Seeing the  multitudes,  He had  compassion  on  them  and  said  to  His  disciples: " Give  ye  them  to  eat."

Brethren, for  some  weeks  previously  so  busy  had been Christ  and  His  disciples  in  and  around  Capharnaum,  preaching  and  healing,  that  the  Gospel  says they had  had  scarcely  time  to  eat. Hence it  was  that Jesus gently  drew  His  immediate  followers  apart,  and embarking sailed  with  them  across  Genesareth  to  the opposite shore. But the  thousands  in  Capharnaum, bound for  the  Passover  at  Jerusalem,  were  not  to  be denied. Hurrying as  best  they  could  around  the lake's northern  shore,  they  presently  arrived  at  the mount to  which  the  little  band  had  retired  for  rest and nourishment. Brief rest,  slight  nourishment,  for immediately they  descend  and  resume  their  labors. It is  worthy  of  notice  that  the  Hebrew  words  used  to