"Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life" (John 6:27).

These words were spoken by the Lord Himself when here on earth, in connection with the feeding of the five thousand. He had taken the five barley loaves and the two fishes from the lad -everything speaking of weakness and insufficiency -and with them had fed the multitude. Wondrous was the love as well as the power expressed. The life given was also the life sustained. Our Lord is both the source and supply of the life He imparts, "The gift of God is eternal life in (Gk.) Christ Jesus our Lord." Hence He is presented to us as the Bread of Life. How precious is this thought:we are not only His workmanship, but the objects of His constant care; not only born of God, but nourished constantly by the same hand that gave us being.

Let us turn for a little to the table which He spreads for us in the presence of our enemies (Ps. 23:5), and view the bounty of Him who is ever the liberal Giver, not only supplying our need, but ministering most fully to our joy as well. As we feed upon this "bread of the mighty," we can hear Him saying, "Eat, O friends:drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved " (Song 5:i).

I. The Roast Lamb. (Ex. 12:1-13.) In the house sheltered by the sprinkled blood of the Passover Lamb we see a table furnished for those who had just been delivered from wrath and judgment. Their food was to be the roast lamb, unleavened bread and bitter herbs. When in the darkness and degradation of slavery, their food had been "the leeks, melons, onions and garlic." But now they have been delivered, not only from the curse, but from the ways of Egypt-all is changed, and their sustenance is changed with the rest :

"God thine everlasting portion,
Feeds thee with the mighty's meat;
Price of Egypt's hard extortion,
Egypt's food no more to eat."

It need not be said that the Lamb points to our Lord Jesus. "Christ our passover is sacrificed for us." The lamb was roast with fire. It was not to be eaten raw, nor sodden with water. This reminds us that Jesus, the blessed One whom the believer knows, loves and feeds upon, was the One who bore His people's sins when He was slain upon the cross, and there endured not only death, but the wrath of God's judgment, the fire. Before He could be the food of His people, He must let this fire of judgment come upon Him. Thus forgiveness, peace and joy are the known portion of those who by faith feed upon Him.

The unleavened bread is what accompanies the roast Lamb, and gives its name to the whole feast- the feast of unleavened bread. A separate life of holiness is the fitting accompaniment of such redemption. The bitter herbs remind us of that "broken and contrite spirit" never despised by God, and without which even the roast lamb would be savorless. So true is it that pride, self-sufficiency or worldliness deprive us of all appreciation of Christ as our food. " Salt is good."

They fed upon this in Egypt-"Jesus Christ the same yesterday; " they fed; upon it also in the wilderness (Num. 9:)-Jesus Christ the same to-day; they fed upon the same when they crossed Jordan and entered the land-Jesus Christ the same forever.

2. The Manna. This bread from heaven was the suited food for the people of God in their wilderness journeyings. (Ex. 16:) In it we see the same Jesus as was foreshadowed by the Lamb, but now as the One who came down to earth and trod the desert sand, entering into all the circumstances of His people's life-apart from sin. Having gone over the whole path, well acquainted with it as Man, and having glorified God in it, He becomes the suited food for His people. They look back at the path He trod, His lonely separation to God, His faithfulness under all circumstances, and they find Him their stay, delight and strength. So precious was this life to God -a life never to be separated from His atoning death-that the memorial of it is ever before Him. They laid up a pot of the manna to be carried over Jordan, and laid up in the ark for a perpetual memorial. Thus Jesus has passed through the Jordan of death, and entered the Canaan of Heaven, and there is laid up as the food of His faithful overcomers. (Rev. 2:12.)

3. The Old Corn. We have here the same Jesus, but not as the Lamb enduring the fire of God's judgment, nor as the humbled One walking this earth, as in the Manna; we see Him now in heaven, His own native place. (Josh. 5:2:) This is where Saul of Tarsus first saw Him (Acts 9:), and this is where we all now behold Him:"We see Jesus . . . crowned with glory and honor " (Heb. 2:9). As we look upon Him there, in the light and glory of heaven, where sin, care and gloom are forever banished, we feed upon Him by faith as the "Bread of Heaven." Already we are there in spirit, and are strengthened to war a good warfare against the hosts of evil that would prevent our enjoyment and possession of our portion. In a little while we will not feed by faith, but by sight, and in heaven itself will find Christ the delight and joy of our hearts.

4. The Meal-Offering. Here we get fresh and broader lessons. (Lev. 2:) Volumes might be written on this subject, and the world could not contain the books that would be written. (Jno. 21:) The first portion of the Meal-Offering belonged to God. Who can measure the delight which the Father finds in His beloved Son ? The portion for God was placed upon the altar, and ascended as a sweet savor to Him. "Thou art My beloved Son in whom I have found My delight."

The next portion was for the priestly family, who partook of it inside the sacred enclosure, the court, feeding upon that which had also been offered to the Lord. Thus God and His people alike feed upon the same blessed Person, the Lord Jesus Christ. This is communion, where the same object is the delight of God's heart and the joy of the saints too. Truly they are a holy and a royal priesthood.

The fine flour was mingled with oil, and in this we get a glimpse of the wondrous truth of the incarnation. That " Holy One," born by the power of the Holy Spirit, is before us as the object of adoration and worship.

But the meal-offering was also anointed with oil, and this directs our view to Him as emerging from His life of quiet and retirement, and coming forth to take His place in public ministry among men. At His baptism by John the Holy Spirit comes upon Him, and He is anointed. As we behold Him in the manger, we feed upon Him ; as we follow Him through His life of service, listening to every word, marking every action, we feed also at the table so bounteously furnished with the choicest fare. Who can exhaust the theme ? where can we put a limit upon the delight of heart with which we dwell upon Him ?

In this connection we will follow the priests of old, and view them during the seven days of their consecration. (Lev. 8:, 9:) We will see our place as believers and our portion in Christ as well. They are washed, clothed, anointed, sanctified and consecrated-their hands filled. They are shut in for seven days, and during this whole time they eat those things wherewith atonement was made. (Ex. 28:33.) What a thought here engages the heart as we contemplate this priestly family, shut in with God seven days, and during the entire period feeding upon that which spoke of atonement ! Shut in with God ! shut out from the world ! and thus feeding upon Christ alone, the One through whom atonement has been accomplished.

At this time Jehovah has His portion-Ex. 29:15-25; Moses has his-ver. 26; and Aaron and his sons have theirs-vers. 27-33. The breast, the shoulder and the unleavened bread are theirs. The breast speaks of the deep and wondrous love of Christ; the shoulder, of that everlasting strength which bears us up before God and through all the trials and difficulties of our way here; and the unleavened bread, as we have already seen, tells of the separate life of the believer. This is the priests' food day by day until the end. The whole life through it is Jesus, in all His varied characters, and all the perfection of His work.

5. Let us now visit the Father's house (Luke 15:) and see there the Father and His once prodigal son seated at the same table, feeding upon the "fatted calf." This is not the manna, nor yet the old corn. Yet the company is the same-sinners saved by grace and brought to God, and in His presence sharing in His food and witnessing His joy. The strains of the sweet music fill every ear and every heart. The prodigal, once vile and rebellious, now is forgiven, cleansed and clothed with the best robe. Together with his Father he rejoices and feasts. Jesus is the joy of the Father's heart, and Jesus is also the joy and strength of the prodigal's. This will be our portion forever.

6. Let us next taste the "apples" and "wine" (Song 2:1-7). Here it is a banqueting house, and His banner over us is love. It is communion true and real, of a very high order. Yet the feasters are the same sinners, saved by grace, and the object is the same Jesus, whose name is as sweet ointment poured forth.

" How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
In a believer's ear!
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds
And drives away his fear."

As the apple gives refreshment and comfort to the traveler in the east, wearied under the burning sun, so to the believer none can compare with Jesus. "As the apple-tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow, with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste." This suggests the sweetness of communion, and its progress as well. We are not only protected, but are led on to further knowledge and enjoyment of our blessed Lord. "As new-born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word that, ye may grow thereby, if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious" (i Pet. 2:2, 3). How preciously the Holy Spirit keeps Jesus our Lord and Saviour before the heart "He shall glorify Me; for He shall receive of Mine and shall show it unto you." Here the believer can taste, and eat, and drink.
Thus we have Jesus as the food of the soul-as the Roast Lamb, the Manna, the Old Corn, the Meal-Offering, the Fatted Calf and the Apples. All speak to the heart of Him, the delight, the joy and the comfort of His people now and forever. In His banquet hall, the heart is so overpowered by His love that it cries out, "Stay me with flagons, and comfort me with apples, for I am sick of love." Poor mortal flesh is too weak, its capacity is limited, so that even though redeemed by blood, and in the enjoyment of Christ's love, it is overpowered, and needs a fresh ministry of that love to buoy it up. It is not weary of His love, but overpowered. How good it is to know that there is suitability in Christ for this state, and that the Holy Spirit gives rest and calm in the enjoyment of the Lord, which is expressed in these words, " I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up nor awake my love till she please." A. E. B.