gently for the loaves and fishes, " not to labour for the meat that perisheth." It was a remarkable sayhig, and demands explanation.
Our Lord, we may be sure, did not mean to encourage idleness. It would be a great mistake to suppose this Labour was the appointed lot of Adam in Paradise. Labour was ordained to be man's occupation after the fall. Labour is honourable in all men. No one need be ashamed of belonging to *' the working classes." Our Lord himself worked in the carpenter's shop at Naza- reth. St. Paul wrought as a tent-maker with his own hands.
What our Lord did mean to rebuke was, that excessive attention to labour for the body, while the soul is neglected, which prevails everywhere in the world. What He re- proved was, the common habit of labouring only for the things of time, and letting alone the things of eternity — of minding only the life that now is, and disregarding the life to come. Against this habit He delivers a solemn warning.
Surely, we must all feel our Lord did not say the words before us without good cause. They are a startling cau- tion which should ring in the ears of many in these latter days. How many in every rank of life are doing the very thing against which Jesus warns us ! They are labouring night and day for " the meat that perisheth," and doing nothing for their immortal souls. Happy are those who learn betimes the respective value of soul and body, and give the first and best place in their thoughts to salvation. One thing is needful. He that seeks first the kingdom of God, will never fail to find *' all other things added to him." (Matt. vi. 33.)
We should mark, thirdly, in this passage, what Christ advises. He tells us to " labour for the meat that endureth to everlasting life." He would have us take pains to find food and satisfaction for our souls. That food is provided