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grow up into Him in all things, which is the head even
Christ."

And now we note the wonderful method of spiritual
growth. From Christ, the Head, the center of control
and power, the whole body i.e., the spiritual nature, "fitly
joined together and compacted by that which every
joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the
measure of every part, maketh increase of the body
unto the edifying of itself in love." In the school of
Heavenly Wisdom there are beginners, learning the first
principles. And there should be in the same school,
advanced pupils, "leaving the first principles of the doc-
trine of Christ, and going on to perfection.”

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The Blessed Jesus, on that day in the temple, felt the inadequacy of the methods and means of the old dispensation. He thirsted for spiritual power. It was a part of the perfectness of Christ, that He had in His Imortal body the aspirations and ambitions of a perfect human nature. He must have often wanted, and prayed for, in His childhood days, the lost privilege of walking and talking with God. It was a craving for the satisfaction of His soul. This day in the temple was His first opportunity. And He grasps it eagerly. He wants to grow in grace and in the knowledge of God.

To-day the Saviour asks us to follow Him, not only along the high-ways of a busy social and commercial life, where men are coming and going who have no leisure, but up into the mountain apart; out into the wilderness. "Come ye yourselves apart, and rest awhile." Preserve most sacredly the Lord's Day. Let one day in seven, at least, be devoted to heavenly wisdom. Be about your Father's business. Guard most zealously the

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Lord's Book. Let no unfaithful hands despoil it of its glory and its supernatural beauty.

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Build strongly and reverence deeply the Lord's House. It is holy ground. Within its sacred portals there is peace, and "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee."

Appreciate the sacraments and other means of grace. In all these ways, seek for spiritual advance. Be amenable to spiritual direction, and appreciative of spiritual teaching, and receptive of grace from Christ Himself. St. Paul's case was not unique. His splendid character, his splendid success, his splendid patience and courage and steadfastness came to him because of grace. "By the grace of God I am what I am." We may have this grace if we live the higher life, and practise continually the presence of God. In that famous chapter in Ben Hur describing the chariot race, one of the most striking passages is where the Jew keeps his feet and recovers his mastery over the horses that have been struck by Messala.

"Forward sprang the four as with one impulse, and forward leaped the car. Past question every experience is serviceable to us. Where got Ben Hur the large hand and mighty grip which helped him now so well? Where but from the oar with which so long he fought the sea? And what was this spring of the floor under his feet to the dizzy eccentric lurch with which in the old time, the trembling ship yielded to the beat of staggering billows, drunk with their power?" So with strength of soul and firmness of spirit and discipline of heart, we are fitted for the emergencies of life.

Lastly: As in early childhood Jesus began to be about His Father's business, so there can be no doubt

as to the expediency of early spiritual education and training. The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. And popular education excludes moral as well as spiritual instruction. If we are true Christians, we shall believe that "other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." If it be impossible to have educational institutions in which religion has a proper recognition, then must we supplement the efforts of the state with home and Church teaching. In every household there will be the family altar. Every child shall be taught the catechism, and shall attend the Sunday-school. Young people shall attend their rector's Bible class, and shall, if possible, establish that relation between themselves and their clergyman which is referred to in the catechism by the term "Spiritual pastor and master." Then all our children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace of our children.

David's prayer may be answered for us, and his prophecy be our reward as we stand in the midst of the rising generation:

"Bow Thy Heavens, O Lord, and come down. Teach me Thy way, and lead me in the right way.

"That our sons may grow up as the young plants, and our daughters may be as the polished corners of the temple."

THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY.

TEXT: "This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth His glory; and His disciples believed on Him."-St. John II, 11.

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By the REV. THOS. E. GREEN, D. D.,

Rector of Grace Church, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

HERE is a vivid interest in the study of the events

that make up the beginning of what afterward become useful and prominent lives. Biographers love to dwell upon the premonitions of greatness; the versatility and precociousness of youth; even the failures and mistakes of those whose lives are worth telling in the light of their after achievements. Not infrequently do we listen in such retrospect, to the first speeches of the great orator, or study with interest the first endeavor of the successful man of affairs.

And while there is a vast distinction between the human life of our Blessed Lord and all and any other life of time, in a certain way He, who was "very man," was obedient to the great conditions of our humanity.

This first miracle at Cana of Galilee, is the beginning of the earthly ministry of the Christ. The earlier Epiphanies had been, so far as He was concerned, involuntary. To the Shepherds of Bethlehem, to the adoring Magi Kings, to the awesome multitude on the Jordan banks at the Baptism; these had been, in a symbolic way, the prophetic announcement of the mighty ministry of the Incarnate Son of God.

This is the first, personal, authoritative act of that Incarnation. It is the first chapter of His practical Gospel. Rightly, then, may we expect to find in it, much of far-reaching import and significance.

St. John Baptist was preaching near Bethabara, beyond Jordan. Here our Lord calls to discipleship five men, and with them journeys to the Galileean Cana, which reaching easily by the third day, He attends the feast incident to a wedding, presumably among friends of His mother, or His earthly kindred.

The silence of the narrative would seem to bear out the generally accepted opinion that St. Joseph had died before our Lord began His public ministry. But the mother of Jesus was there, and also His brethren, so that this beginning of His public acts was also, as one has said, a farewell to the earthly ties that hitherto had bound Him.

The festivities attending an Oriental wedding extended over a number of days; seven with the wealthy, and at least three with the poor. The presence of the Lord and His disciples, perhaps unexpected, had the lamentable result of depleting the amount of refreshments provided for the company. His mother, evidently mingling with the family in their domestic arrangements, discovers the failure of the supply of wine. Apparently anxious to shield the humble household from mortification, she comes to her Son, and in simple words announces the fact, "They have no wine."

Just what she expected, just why she came to Him at all, is hard to determine. He had not previously "shown forth His glory"; there had, so far as the inspired narrative relates, been no anterior miracles or displays of any extraordinary kind. May be the blessed

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