book. The position which, as a cardinal in England, Dr. Wiseman now occupies, makes it more proper than ever to guard his readers against implicitly trusting a writer who has thus laid himself open to animadversion. ESSAY. Ꮲ Ꭺ Ꭱ Ꭲ L. EXAMINATION OF DR. WISEMAN'S VIEW. In order to ascertain the import and true meaning of our Lord's discourse to the Jews recorded in the sixth chapter of St. John's Gospel, it becomes exceedingly important to keep in mind the particular circumstances that gave occasion to it. On the eastern side of the Sea of Tiberias Jesus had fed an immense multitude, amounting probably to 8000 people,* on five barley loaves and two small fishes, and the fragments that remained after the whole were satisfied were sufficient to fill twelve baskets. This was certainly one of the most extraordinary miracles that he had ever performed, and we are not surprised that the witnesses and subjects of it acknowledge him to be the expected prophet. The erroneousness of their views, however, and the worldly character of their minds, are evident from their intention to seize him and make him king. In order to avoid * Mark, vi., 44, Luke, ix., 14, and John, vi., 14, speak of "about 5000 men;" Matthew, xiv., 21, does the same, adding, "besides women and children." John, vi., 2, makes it probable that many of them were sick. A |