with in a dish, the head of John the Baptist. And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes who sat at meat, with him, he would not reject her, and he commanded it to be given her. And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded John in the prison, and brought his head in a dish, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel brought it [and] gave it to her mother. And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb; and went and told Jesus.

SECTION LXXIII.

The Twelve return, and Jesus retires with them to the Desert of Bethsaida.

MATT. xiv. 13-15. MARK vi. 30-35. LUKE ix. 10, 11. JOHN vi. 1, 2.

When Jesus heard of it, the apostles gathered themselves together unto him, when they were returned, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught. And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. And after these things he took them and went aside privately, and they departed thence by ship privately. Then Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias, into a desert place apart, belonging to the city called Bethsaida. And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and when the people had heard and knew thereof, they ran afoot thither out of all cities, and followed, and came together unto him. And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd. And he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and he healed their sick, and began to teach them many things, and healed them that had need of healing. And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.

SECTION LXXIV.

Five thousand are fed miraculously.

MATT. xiv. 16-22. MARK vi. 35-44. LUKE ix. 12-18. JOHN vi. 3-15.

And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. And the Passover, a feast of the Jews was nigh. When Jesus then 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 shillings-worth is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. And when the day began to wear away, and was now far spent, and it was evening, his twelve disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed: Send away the multitude that they may go into the towns and country round about, and into the villages, and lodge, and buy themselves bread, and get victuals: for they have nothing to eat. He answered and said unto them, They need not depart : give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go, and buy two hundred shillings-worth of bread, and give them to eat? He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes; we have here but five loaves and two fishes except we should go and buy food for all this people. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, who hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? And he said, Bring them hither to

me.

And Jesus said to his disciples, Make the men sit down by fifties in a company. And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass. Now there was much grass in the place. And they did so, and made them all sit down; and he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.

And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke, and when he had given thanks, he distributed the loaves, and two fishes, and gave to his disciples to set before them, and the disciples gave of the loaves to the multitude, that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. And they did all eat, and were filled. 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 they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments of the five barley loaves, and of the fishes, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children. Then those men who had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet, that should come into the world.

SECTION LXXV.

Christ sends the Multitude away, and prays alone. MATT. xiv. 22, 23. MARK vi. 45, 46. JOHN vi. 15.

When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go before him to the other side, over against Bethsaida, while he dismissed the people. And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up, and departed again into a mountain himself alone; apart to pray and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

SECTION LXXVI.

Christ walks on the Sea to his Disciples, who are overtaken with a Storm.

MATT. xiv. 24-34. MARK vi. 47-53. JOHN vi. 16-22.

And when the even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea of Galilee, and entered into a ship, and went over the sea towards Capernaum. And the

ship was in the midst of the sea, and Jesus was not come to them, but he was alone on the land: and it was now dark. And the sea arose, by reason of a great wind that blew. And the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves; for the wind was contrary unto them. And he saw them toiling in rowing. And about the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea; even as if he would have passed by them. So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea they supposed him to be a spirit, and they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. For they all saw him, and were troubled. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; It is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And he went up unto them into the ship; then they gladly received him and when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. And immediately the ship was at the land whither they went; and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure and wondered. For they thought not of the miracle of the loaves: because their hearts were hardened. Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

SECTION LXXVII.

Christ heals many people.

MATT. xiv. 34, 35, 36. MARK vi. 53, to the end. And when they had passed over, they came into the

land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore. And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him. And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was; and brought unto him all that were diseased. And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him, that they might touch if it were but the border, the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.

SECTION LXXVIII.

Christ teaches in the Synagogue of Capernaum. Conversation with his Disciples on the Bread of Life.

JOHN vi. 22, to the end, and vii. 1.

The day following, the people who stood on the other side of the lake considered that there was no other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples went away alone. (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks.) When the people, however, saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus. And when they had found him on the other side of the lake, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither? Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not only for the food which perisheth, but for that food which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you for him hath God the Father commissioned.

Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye be