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or three, it is fufficient for us to know that the fupply was 'very confiderable. The expenditure of water, at this advanced period of the feaft, muft have been great. Jefus determined to make those partially exhaufted veffels the medium of his intended miracle. To have replenished the empty wine vessels might excite fufpicion of collufion; but into water-cisterns for purifying, wine never entered, and therefore no doubt could arife. He, then, who could have transformed the bottom of a dry ciftern into a fountain of water, or of wine, at his pleasure, commands the servants to "fill the water-pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim."

The miracle is already performed. By an unfeen, unperceived energy; without a word fpoken, without a gesture, by a fimple act of the will, plain water is inflantaneously converted into wine of the finest quality. What dignified fimplicity! what unaffected majefty! A faft fo very extraordinary is narrated with no more pomp of language than the most common procefs of nature. He now defires the attendants, hitherto the only witneffes of this wonderful change, to draw off fome of the wine, and bear it to the governor of the teaf, at the moment when the deficiency began to be felt. Thus every supply which comes immediately from the hand of Providence is at Sonce feasonable, falutary, and excellent in its kind. What comes through the channel of men like ourselves muft of neceflity have a mixture of their impurity and imperfection.

With us the mafter of the houfe is alfo the governor of the feaft. It is his concern to fee that his friends be properly accommodated and fupplied. But among the Jews an officer of this description was appointed to prefide, whether elected by the company, named by the bridegroom, or conftituted by public authority, whofe bufinefs it was to pronounce a benediction on what was provided, and who, when the cup was blessed, firft drank of it himself, and then paffed it round the table. In compliance with this cuftom, Jefus directed the firit-fruits of this miracle to be carried to him to pafs judg. ment. He instantly perceives the difference, though ignorant of the process; and in furprife addreffes himself to the bridegroom, whose it was to prepare the entertainment, and to deray the expenfe, in thefe words; "Every man at the beginning doth fet forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worte: but thou haft kept the good wine until now." Though this too may not perfectly coincide with modern manners, it exhibits a picture of the common practice in that country and in that age; and it led to a discov ery of the whole my ftery, and Jefus flood confeffed the Son of

God,

God, the Lord of univerfal nature, the fearcher of hearts, the Fuler of elemen's, the friend and brother of mankind. This beginning of miracles did Jefus in Cana of Galilee, and manifefled forth his glory; and his difciples believed on him."

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Many and ufeful are the practical reflections which flow from this fubject. Permit me to fuggeft fome of them.

1. The religion of Jefus Chrift embraces the whole circle of duty. Duties are of various orders and importance. Some are effential and indifpenfable, others are agreeable and ornamenal; as in a well-conftructed edifice there are parts abfo lutely neceffary to its exiflence, and there are parts which might be removed indeed without affecting the folidity and durablenefs of the fabric, but the removal would greatly im pair its elegance and beauty. So in the fcale of morals there are the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy and faith; and there are obligations of an inferior order; though highly important in the commerce of human life; fuch as gentleness, courtefy, affability, fympathy. Of both ranks of duty our bleffed Lord fet the happieft example. He mixed with mankind, he partook of their griefs and their joys, he fat down at their tables, he affifled at their nuptial feftivity, he indulged in the mutual endearments of friendfhip, he paid attention to little children, took them to his arms and bleffed them. Difciple of Jelus, go thou and do likewife. Ill does it become thee to be stately, and diftant, and reserved and ungracious, when he was fo meek and condefcending. There are certain auftere Chriftians who will on no occafion, and on no account, defcend from the pinnacle of their dignity, and who render religion difgufting to others by the harfhnels of their manners, and a fevere, morofe, ungainly deportment. This they cannot have learned of Chrift, nor at his old fchool. Will they vouchfafe to take a leffon from the apostle Paul, who underflood his own real dignity as well as any man?"Mind not high things, but condefcend to men of low eflate." And I beg leave to add, from him: "Be not wile in your own conceits.'

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2. Jefus bimfelf was all purity and perfection, but the mother of Jefus was fubject to culpable infirmity. She incur red cenfure oftener than once, and therefore is not to be looked up to as a perfect model, much lefs to receive the adoration which is due to Deity alone. It is one of the most humiliating views of human understanding, to behold it so far degraded as to think of approaching the great interceffor and friend of mankind, through the interceffion of another. There is one God," faith the Scripture, and one "Mediator

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between God and men, the man Chrift Jefus." No, fays popery, you must have a mediatrix between you and that Mediátor; nay, one armed with authority to control and cominand him. The mind turns away with horror from the blafphemous fuggeftion. The rights of parents have a boundary, both as to extent and duration, the authority of God knows no limit, and never can expire. When his voice is heard, that of nature mult be fupprefled. The duties of the public character muft abforb the teelings of the private individual. We may warrantably lay before our compaffionate Redeemer our moft fecret thoughts, and pour out our hearts before him in prayer and fupplication, in perfect fubmiflion to his will; but we muft not prefume either to prelcribe to his providence, or to arraign his conduct. He doeth all things wifely and well."

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3. Every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thankfgiving: for "it is fan&tified by the word of God and prayer." Whether therefore God fupplies the good things of life in the ordinary courfe of nature, or by a fpecial interpofition of his almighty power, they are liberally bestowed, they are the bounty of a Father, to be ufed, to be enjoyed. When God placed our grand progenitor in the terreftrial paradife, the parental grant was large: “Of every tree of the garden thou mayeft freely eat," but with one fingle refervation; "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. thou shalt not eat of it for in the day that thou eateit thereof thou fhalt furely die.". We are ftill on the fame footing, in a world which has indeed ceafed to be a paradife, but which, nevertheless, is still abundantly ftored with every thing necelfary, convenient, and comfortable for man. The grant is ftill as liberal: "The good of the land is before you :" take, thou mayeft freely eat, ireely drink." But, mark the refervation, fill indifpenfable as ever, eat, drink, in moderation, to the fupport and refrethment of the body, not its depreffion and derangement. To a certain bound this is cordial, falutary, nutritive beyond, its nature changes, it becomes a deadly poifon. Satisly thy felt with knowing its good, and venture not to make trial of its evil. Did Jefus convert water into wine that he might minifter fuel to excels? The thought is imp ous. As well might a bountiful providence be charged with the gluttony, the drunkennefs and all the other fenfual lufts in which men indulge them felves, becanfe it "gives us rain from heaven and fruitful fealons, filling our hearts with food and gladnefs." The miracle of Cana of Galilee, as all thofe which our Lord wrought, was a miracle of goodness; it pro

vided a fupply of a neceffary of life, to a family in moderate. circumftances, and which lafted them, I doubt not, for many days it was the repayment of a debt of friendship and hofpitality, in a manner peculiar to himself; and it was a manifeftation of his glory in the eyes of his disciples, who had far other thoughts than that of abufing their Master's bounty; "they believed on him."

4. We have faid that this and all our Saviour's other miracles were miracles of goodness: We now add, They were all difinterested. He here gave proof of fovereignty uncontrolable. It was exercifed to fupply the temporal wants of a few, and to minister to the everlasting confolation of myriads, But" Chrift pleafed not himself." What might not his power have commanded, of all that is exquifite on the earth, in the. air, through the paths of the fea? But though an hungred, he. will not command ftones to be made bread for his own ufe; if he miraculoufly multiply a few loaves and fishes, it is to feed. a ftarving, fainting multitude. If he makes the fea tributary, it is at one time to compensate the painful labour of poor men, who had" toiled all night and taken nothing," at another, to prevent offence by paying his tribute Money. Fish broiled. on a fire of coals, and a morlet of bread, are the fimple fare. on which he and his diiciples dine, even "after that he was rifen from the dead." "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nefts; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head." They that wear foft clothing are in kings' houfes ;" His clothing was not worth dividing among a few of the bafeft of mankind: His raiment, his lodging, his fare were all of a piece. And is the fervant greater than his Lord ?. To the poor the Gofpel is preached, and to the poor the example is fet, the example of contentment with a low condition, of meek fubmiffion to hardfhip, of fuperiority to the vanities and luxuries of this world, of felf-government and felf-denial. His modern difciples have been accused of love of eafe and indulgence, of fondness for dainties and delicacies, of aiming at power and pre-eminence. If the imputation be juft, it is to be lamented and Chriftians of every rank and denomination are concerned, as far as in them lies, to do it away. If it be ill-founded, it must be borne, as part of the reproach of Chrift; and his difciple muft bear in mind that he is bound by. the law and by the practice of his divine Mafter, not only te abflain from all evil, but from all appearane of evil.

LECTURE

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And he arafe out of the fynagogue, and entered into Simon's houfe: and Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they befought him for her. And he flood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her. And immediately fhe arofe, and miniftered unto them. Now, when the fun was jetting, all they that had any fick with divers difeafes brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them. And devils alfo came out of many, crying out, and faying, thou art Chrift, the Son of God, Andhe, rebuking them, fuffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Chrift. And when it was day he departed, and went into a defert place; and the people fought him, and came unto him, and ftayed him, that he should not depart from them. And he faid unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities allo: for therefore am fent. And he preached in the fynagogues of Galilee.

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HE religion of the Gofpel is adapted to every poffible condition of life, for it is adapted to the nature of man, who, with the variation of a few circumstances, is the fame univerfally, and in every age. There is the difference of colour and speech, the difference of climate and foil, the difference of high and low, of rich and poor; but still it is man, with all his excellencies and imperfections, with all his capability of degradation and of improvement, with all his propenfities to evil and to good. Chriftianity takes him up as he is, and undertakes to make him what he ought to be. Can the Ethiopian change his colour, or the leopard his spots ?". No, replies nature, I gave that colour, I painted those spots; but I cannot undo my own work. He that is black muft, for me, continue black ftill, that which is fpotted must be spotted ftill. But the grace of the Gofpel unfolds a mystery which it is beyond the reach of nature to folve. It transforms that which was as fcarlet into the whiteness of snow, what was red like crimfon into the colour of wool. "Can thele dry bones live ?" Yes, at the word, and by the spirit of the Lord. Mir

acles

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