The bread of God

The bread of God

The Bread of Life.

(The Gospel History, Section 64)

Jesus therefore said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, It was not Moses that gave you the bread out of heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread out of heaven.

The bread of God

(The Saviour of the World, Vol IV, Book I, Poem XIV)

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, It was not Moses that gave you the bread out of heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread out of heaven.”

Ah, Christ, Thy patience! Not wearied was the Lord
By the wilfulness of that so clamorous horde;
They, querulous, ask sign: lo, He reveals
The mystery, which stale use and wont conceals:—
“The poet, whence came he with burning thought?
The man, ingenious, who for his fellows wrought
New ways of pleasant living? the farmer, he,
Through labours manifold made bread to be?—
Not Moses or another gave you these:
My Father, that His children He might please,
Spread all this good before men day by day,
To nourish, comfort, gladden all their way.

“There be two signs by which ye shall discern
That Bread of God whose semblance ye must learn;—
All undefiled, it cometh from above;
It quickeneth men alike to life and love:
Ye see the signs; know what they signify;
All meat that nourisheth is from on high—
Whether that bread secreted in small seed
Which sun and shower shall multiply at need
Of myriad hungry mouths, or spoken word
Quickening the fainting souls by whom ’tis heard:
Ye foolish ones, who deem your life your own,
Nor know that not all your labours can, alone,
Make food for flesh or for the spirit’s need,—
Receive that bread I offer!”

“Lord, evermore give us this bread.”

As sword goes through cuirass, conviction quick
Pierced the heart of the crowd; they knew them sick
For other bread than they wot of: “Lord,” they cry,
“Evermore give us bread, or else we die.”
They meant perchance no more than bread on board;
But not thus niggard will the Lord accord
All living to His people:—our Lord, so we
Cry on Thee for our meat—our Sustenance be!

St. John vi. 32.