our desires to the earth, cause us to forget that heaven is our home, that there are enjoyments which, consisting in the perfection of all our powers and in the vision of our God and Saviour, should supremely occupy our hearts and engage our constant exertions-then, indeed, worldly pleasures are inordinately pursued-then, indeed, indulgence in them becomes criminal-then they are fixing guilt on the conscience, and the stain of sin on the soul—and then, they are quickening in our immortal spirits, "the worm that never dies, and the fire that never will be quenched "."

Here then, brethren, a most serious inquiry demands your attention. Are you carrying indulgence in worldly pleasures to this dreadful excess? Do they lead you to neglect your duties to man or to God; to violate the laws of your almighty Sovereign; to neglect his worship and service? Do they corrupt your hearts, and withdraw your thoughts from that eternity to which you are hastening? These are inquiries which each one of you must answer for himself. No limit can be prescribed for all persons beyond which indulgence in pleasure is sinful. The variety in the constitution of the human character, and the difference of strength in the passions of different individuals, place at different degrees the point where indulgence in pleasure becomes criminal. Each one must determine for himself.

Mark ix. 44.

The limits of lawful indulgence are exceeded, the moment worldly pleasure begins to assume that place in our hearts which is due to God, to his laws, and to the work of our salvation. He that thus "liveth in pleasure, is dead while he liveth "." Innocent to a certain distance as may be the course in which she leads us; beyond that point, her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death d "

2. We are called to notice, in this miracle, the condescension and kindness of our blessed Lord.

He became a guest at the marriage ceremony of a poor relative. He joined in the festivities that marked the joyful occasion. He prevented the pleasure of the company from being interrupted, and kindly relieved the embarrassment of the bridegroom, by supplying the deficiency of wine. He even displayed for this purpose the first exertion of his almighty power. It seems impossible that we can view the blessed Jesus in these acts of condescension and benignity, and not admire and love him-and not also seek to imitate him by those innumerable little acts of courtesy and kindness which brighten the intercourse of social and domestic life.

3. An important reflection also arises from the conduct of our Lord to his mother Mary.

"

When she attempted to counsel him in his public capacity as a prophet of God, and to suggest to him a fit time for the display of his miraculous power, he gently rebuked her. Certainly neither this circumstance, nor any other in the sacred history, would lead us to believe that to Mary, divine honours are due. And yet there is a Church which not only holds her in veneration, as is the duty of all Christians; for she is the mother of our blessed Lord; but offers her divine honours; and even proceeds to the impious extreme of imploring her intercession with that divine personage who liveth the one great Intercessor; and who, when on earth, repressed an attempt of his mother to interfere in his authoritative acts. Can he be pleased with an interference in his state of glory, which he forbade in his state of humiliation on earth? Blessed through all generations be that holy woman

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highly favoured!" But let us shrink with a degree of horror from that idolatrous worship which would rank even the purest of the human race with "the King of kings and Lord of lords," as an intercessor at the throne of the almighty Father.

4. From the behaviour of our blessed Lord on this occasion to Mary his mother, we may also learn, that in the discharge of our duty to God we are not to be swayed by human regards.

In this respect applies the declaration of our

blessed Lord-" He that loveth father or mother, or wife or children, or brethren or sister, more than me, is not worthy of me." In the discharge of the high duties of the commission, which he had received from his Father, the Son of man would not admit of the suggestion or interference of his nearest and dearest relative. In those cases, therefore, where the law of God clearly enjoins our duty, no human considerations should deter us from the prudent and mild, but resolute discharge of it. And when the dearest earthly relatives would impose commands inconsistent with our Christian profession, then in respect to the particular case will apply the precept of " renouncing father and mother, and wife and kinsfolk, and houses and lands, nay even our own life, for the love of Christ f."

5. Further, and principally, in this miracle; our attention should be drawn to the manifestation which Christ made of his divine glory, and to the effect which it produced on his disciples.

Covered, as his divine glory was, by the veil of human nature, he proved that his power was divine by the miracle which he performed. What, but the same Almighty power which constituted the laws of nature, can change their operations? What, but the same Almighty power which made the element of water, and assigned it its peculiar f Matt. xix. 29.

e Matt. x. 37, 38.

properties, could entirely change those properties, and make water, wine? The conclusion is so obvious and irresistible, that the disciples immediately acknowledged it, and believed in their Master-believed in him as a prophet sent from God, for "no man could do the miracle which he did, unless God were with him "."

How much more splendid, brethren, the manifestation of the glory of Christ which we now behold. We have the inspired record, not only of one miracle, but of hundreds. We have the manifestation, not only of that power which changed water into wine; but of that Almighty energy, which restored the dead to life; and changed corruption into incorruption, and mortal into immortality. How vigorous, and how stedfast, should be our faith in him, who thus proved himself, with power, to be the Son of God! As the Son of God, let us adore him, and confide to him, in humility and penitence, the salvation of our souls. He is, indeed, "the Son of God," mighty in power, at the right hand of his Father, King of kings, and Lord of lords. But he was "the Son of man ;" and in his state of glory, he still is clothed with our nature; and, therefore, he is "touched with a feeling for our infirmities "-Power and mercy, bre

thren, unite to draw us to his throne.

6. Lastly-We see our blessed Lord, honouring,