MULTIPLICATION. We find in Scripture several Examples of a miraculous Multiplication of several Species of Food. That for Instance performed by Elijah in Favour of the Widow of Zarephath, whose Meal and Oil was so multiplied or increased, that from a small Quantity which she had at first, it became sufficient for her self and Son, and for her Guest Elijah, during the whole 1 Kings xvii. 10, 11.Time of a grievous Famine. The second Example of this Kind of Multiplication is that of Elisha, in Favour of a Widow, who had 2 Kings iv. 1, 2, &c.been the Wife of a Prophet: She being pursued by her Husband’s Creditors, addressed her self to Elisha for Relief. He asked her what she had in her House; she answered, she had only a little Oil. Elisha bid her borrow of her Neighbours what empty Vessels she could, and fill them up with Oil, then sell as much as would pay her Creditors, and she and her Son to live upon the rest. This she did, and the Event answered the Promises of the Prophet. The Oil did not cease to run, as long as she had any Vessels to receive it. The same Prophet multiplied twenty Barley-Loaves that were brought him, so as to be sufficient for the feeding of an hundred Prophets that were gathered together, with some Remainder afterwards.
2 Kings iv. 42.We read in the New Testament, that Jesus Christ fed five Thousand Men, without reckoning Women and Children, with only five Barley-Loaves and two Fishes; so that Matth. xiv. 17, &c. John vi. 5, &c. Matth. xv. 32.there remained over and above twelve Baskets full. At another Time he satisfied four Thousand Men, besides Women and Children, with seven Loaves and a few small Fishes. St. Austin1 compares this Multiplication of the Bread by Jesus Christ, to that which God brings to pass every Day, in a Manner not less to be admired, of a few Grains of Seed, which produce an immense Quantity of Fruits and Grains, for the Support of Men and other Creatures. But these natural Miracles being familiar to us, we give little Attention to ‘em; and therefore God has reserved to himself the exerting of this miraculous Power, to awaken our Attention, and to make us admire his Works. Quia miracula ejus assiduitate viluerunt, ita ut penè nemo dignetur attendere opera Dei mira & stupenda in quolibet seminis grano; secundum suam ipsam misericordiam, servavit sibi quædam quæ faceret opportuno tempore, præter usitatum cursum ordinemque naturæ, ut non majora; sed insolita videndo stuperent, quibus quotidiana viluerunt. We are entirely ignorant of the Manner by which this Multiplication was effected; whether it be by a new Creation, or by a sudden Change of the Parts of the adjacent Matter; or lastly by a sudden and imperceptible Transportation of Parts of the same Nature, which joined themselves to those that were already in the Hands of the Apostles, and so augmented their Quantity. St. Austin2 and St. Jerome3 believed, that the Multiplication of the Loaves was performed in the Hands of Jesus Christ; St. Chrysostom, Leontius, and Euthymius, in the Hands of the Apostles. But St. Hilarius would not decide the Question.
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