Matthew Poole and continuators on Mark 8:21

21 And he said unto them, How is it that you do not understand?

We met with this whole History, with some Additions in Matth. 16.5.6.7. &c. See the Notes there. It teacheth us both a Less[illegible: 1 letter]n of Humane fra[illegible: 1 letter]l[illegible: 1 letter]y, and what is our Christian duty of our frailty, in not considering the works of the Lord for us, so as to make any use of them, for the time to come, God doth his great works of Providence, to be had in Remembrance, and that not only, with respect to himself, that he might be glorified by us, upon the remembrance of them, and this not only by our rejoycing in him, but also by our trusting in him, and not desponding under such like Difficulties, as God by any of them hath delivered us from, and also with respect to our duty, that we might in present exigencies, relieve our selves from former experiences, and if we do not thus conceive of Gods dispensations, we do not perceive▪ nor understand, the meaning and will of God in them; tho we have Eyes, we see not▪ tho we have ears, we hear not, and in remembring, we remember not, our remembrance is of no benefit, no advant[illegible: 1 letter]ge at all unto us. Our Saviour indeed, did not at all speak here of bodily Bread, tho he did bid them beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees, and Herod, he spake to them about the Doctrine of the Pharisees, and so Matthew tells us, they (after this reproof) considered, tho he (after his accustomed manner,) spake to them under a Parabolical expression. Saith he, what though you have forgotten to bring Bread, do not you know, have not I by two Mir[illegible: 1 letter]c[illegible: 1 letter]lous operations, taught you that I am able to furnish you with Bread, tho you have none, or such a quantity as is very insufficient? God expecteth of us, that we should so keep in mind his former dispensations of Providence to us, under straights and Difficulties, as to trust in him, when his Providence brings us again into the like difficulties, yet not declining the use of any reasonable and just means, for providing for our selves. Thus David knew, and understood, that God had delivered him from the Lyon and the Bear, while going against Goliah, 1 Sam. 17. he made it a ground of his confidence, 1 Sam 17. so also Psal. 116.8. and Paul when he concluded God would deliver, because he had delivered. God Psal. 74.14. when he brake the Heads of Leviathan in pieces, gave him to be meat to the People inhabiting the Wilderness, he intends former mercies to be food for his People, in following Straights and Exigencies.