Wnurw Christ saw those gluttons, seeking their bellies, flocking so fast unto him, after his wonted manner (the occasion taken, to teach and preach unto them, of the things now moved) he said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye seek me not because ye have seen my miracles, but because ye have eaten of the loaves and were well filled.” But as for me, I am not come into this world only to fill men’s bellies, but to feed and satisfy their souls. Ye take great pains to follow me for the meat of your bellies; but, O sluggards, work, take pains, and labour rather to get that meat that shall never perish. For this meat that ye have sought of me hitherto, perisheth with your bellies; but the meat that I shall give you, is spiritual, and may not perish, but abideth for ever, giving life everlasting. For my Father hath consigned and confirmed me, with his assured testimony, to be that assured saving health and earnest-penny of everlasting life.” When the Jews understood not what Christ meant, bidding them to work and labour for that meat that Should never perish,” they asked him, What shall we do, ” that we might work the works of God?”—supposing that he had spoken of some outward work required of them. Wherefore Jesus answered, saying, Even this is the work of God, to believe and trust in him whom the Father hath sent.” Lo, here may ye see that work of God which he requireth of us, even to believe in Christ. Also consider again what this meat is, whieh he bade them here prepare and seek for, saying, Work, take pains, and seek for that meat, ὅσο” and thou shalt see it none other meat than the belief in Christ: wherefore he concludeth, that this meat so often mentioned, is faith; ii. Οὗ the which meat (saith the prophet) the just liveth. Faith in him is therefore the meat which Christ prepareth and dresseth so purely; pouldering! and spicing it with spiritual allegories in all this chapter following, to give us everlasting life through it. n Then said the Jews unto him, What token doest thou, — whereby we might know that we should believe in thee?
[1 Pouldering: powdering.]
Do somewhat that we might believe in thee. What thing workest thou that we might know thee to be God? Thou knowest well enough that our fathers did eat bread or manna in the desert, as it is written He gave them bread from above. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave ye not that bread from heaven; for though it fell down from the air, yet was it not heavenly food, for it did but feed the belly: but this bread of God that is descended from heaven, whom my Father giveth, refresheth the soul so abundantly, that it giveth life unto the world When the Jews understood not this saying, which was nought else than the declaring of the gospel (for by the eating of this bread he meant that belief of this his gospel, they said, “Sir, give us this bread evermore.” Jesus said unto them, “1 am the bread of life; and whoso come to me shall not hunger, and whoso believe in me shall never thirst.” When the Jews heard Christ say, the bread that descended from heaven should give life to the world; they desired to have this bread given them for ever. And Jesus perceiving that they understood not the sense of this gospel, he expounded unto them who was this so lively bread that giveth life to all the world, saying, “I am the bread of life, and whoso cometh to me,” that is to say, whoso is grafted and joined to me by faith, “shall never hunger;” that is, whoso believeth in me is satisfed? It is faith, therefore, that stauncheth this hunger and thirst of the soul. Faith it is, therefore, in Christ that filleth our hungry hearts, so that we can desire none other, if we once eat and drink him by faith; that is to say, if we believe his flesh and body to have been broken, and his blood shed, for our sins. For then are our souls satisfied, and we be justified.
Over this it followeth: But I have told you this, because ye look upon me, and believe me not; that is, ye be offended that I said, He that eometh to me shall neither hunger nor thirst, seeing that yourselves, being present, be yet both hungry and thirsty. But this cometh because ye have seen me with your bodily eyes, and yet see me, and believe not in me: but I speak not of such sight nor coming, but of the sight of faith, which whoso hath, he shall? none other desire; he shall not seek by night to love another, before whom he
[2 So but in shall Aave none.]
would lay his grief. He shall not run wandering here and there, to seek dead stocks and stones: for he is certified by his faith to whom he shall cleave; he is coupled by faith unto me, his very spouse and lively food, the only treasure of his soul, never more to thirst for any other. This light of faith ye have not, for ye believe not nor trust in me: wherefore ye understand not how I am the very bread and meat of the your souls, that is to say, your faith and hope. And the cause of this your blindness is, (I will not say over hardly to you,) that the Father hath not drawn youinto the knowledge of me, or else ye had received me: for all that the Father giveth me, must come unto me. And as for me, I cast out no man that cometh to me; for I am not come down from heaven to do my will, which ye attribute unto me as unto another! man; for I am verily a very man, and according to that nature, I have a special proper will; but much more came obedient to my Father than one of you. For your will oft to resisteth and repugneth God’s will; but so doth mine never. 1 am therefore come down to do his will that hath sent me, and to do you to wit what his will is. This (I say) is my Father’s will that hath sent me, that of all that he hath given me I lose none; but must raise him up again in the last day. And, to be plain, this is his will that sent me, that whoso seeth, that is, knoweth the Son, and believeth in him, he shall have life everlasting, and I shall stir him up in the last day. Here may ye see what meat he speaketh of. God sent his Son into this world, that we might live through him. Who liveth by him? They that eat his flesh and drink his — blood. Who eat his flesh and drink his blood? They that tobe believe his body crucified and his blood shed for their sins: these cleave unto his gracious favour. But how could they cleave thus unto him, except they knew him? And therefore the he added, saying, Every man that seeth the Son,” that is to say, understandeth wherefore the Son was sent into this world, and believeth in him, shall have everlasting life.” of. Here it appeared to the carnal Jews, that Christ had taken too much upon himself, to say, “I am the bread of life, which am come down from heaven to give life to the world:” wherefore the flesh, that is to say? the Jews, now murmured,