turned to give glory to GOD, save this stranger, it is the same thing as if He had said,

am not acknowledged by those who have received my WORD, and who ought to have been instructed by its representatives, that I am the thing represented, because I am the Divine Foun`tain of all life, and wisdom and purity; when yet they, who have not мY WORD, and have not been the subjects of its instruction, are disposed to acknowledge ME, by giving me the glory which properly belongs to ME.

Q. But it is lastly written, that He said unto him, Arise, go thy way; thy faith hath made· thee whole how do you understand these

words?

A. According to the sense of the letter, the words relate to the discharge of the Samaritan leper, and to the declaration of the cause of his cure, as originating in his faith; but according to the spiritual sense of the words, they apply to those who are rescued by divine mercy from the guilt of profanation, and contain a salutary counsel on the interesting occasion. For by arising in this case, is to be understood an elevation of the affection and thoughts to a closer and fuller conjunction with the SUPREME GOOD and SUPREME TRUTH, thus with the INCARNATE GOD in His DIVINE HUMANITY; and by the additional injunction, go thy way, is further to be understood the requirement of divine order, that they should form their lives in agreement with such elevation, that so the external man, with all his concerns, may be under the

rule and government of heavenly love and wisdom in the internal man; and lastly by the declaration, thy faith hath made thee whole, is to be understood that the perversion and profanation of good and truth can only be removed by faith in and from the INCARNATE GOD, thus by a faith not originating in man, but in HIM who hath said, Without Me ye can do nothing.

Q. What then is the general instruction which you learn from this miracle?

A. From the literal sense of this miracle, I learn again to adore that omnipotence of the GREAT SAVIOUR, by which He cured the terrible bodily disease called the Leprosy, in ten several cases at the same time, and this, when the subjects of that disease were removed from His more immediate presence. And from the spiritual sense of the miracle, I am led again to reflect on that far more terrible mental disease, the profanation of good and truth, of which the leprosy was a striking and awful figure. From the exexample too of the one leper, who turned back, and with a loud voice glorified GOD, and whose faith was afterwards commended by that Gon, I am further taught the instructive lesson, how I ought also to behave under similar circumstances, and on every occasion of receiving any spiritual blessing from the hand of my GoD. I learn also, that all the representatives in the Jewish or representative church pointed at the GREAT SAVIOUR, and were realized in His divine person. From the LORD's significant question also, Were there not ten cleansed? I

receive the additional instruction, that He extends to all mankind the healing virtue of His divine presence and operation, for the purpose of preserving them from the great evil of profanation; and from His other equally significant question, Where are the nine ? I am led to reflect on that awful state of inconsideration, by which the generality of mankind are blinded to a proper sense of the gratitude they owe to the FATHER OF MERCIES, and thus accept His favours, but without acknowledging the divine bounty from which they flow. Again, when the BLESSED JESUS adds, There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger, I am taught to see, that the Gentiles, who do not possess the Word of Revelation, are better disposed in general to acknowledge the INCARNATE GOD, and worship Him in His DIVINE HUMANITY, than they who do possess it, and who at the same time profane its truth's and sanctities. Lastly, from the concluding injunction to the cleansed leper, Arise, go thy way, thy faith hath made thee whole, I learn the important duty of elevating my affections and thoughts to my SAVIOUR GOD under every reception of His mercy, and to form my whole life and conversation in agreement with such elevation, devoutly acknowledging the cure of all my spiritual disorders to proceed from His divine favour, because it is the result of a faith which He alone inspires. I am resolved, therefore, to endeavour to profit by all the above instruction, and espe cially, in every spiritual purification, to imitate

Z

the example of the one in the above history, who, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified GoD, and fell on his face at His feet. Thus may I hope, like this blessed leper, to gain the approbation of my GOD, and to hear from His divine lips the edifying and consolatory words, Arise, go thy way, thy faith hath made thee whole. AMEN.

261:

THE WATER TURNED INTO

WINE...

JOHN ii. 1 to 12.

And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of JESUS was there; and both JESUS was called and His disciples to the marriage, &c. &c.

Q. WHAT do you here understand by a marriage in Cana of Galilee?

A. By a marriage in Cana of Galilee, according to the literal sense of the above history, is to be understood what is literally expressed; but according to the spiritual sense, by the marriage here spoken of, is to be understood a spiritual marriage, which is such a marriage as that mentioned in the parable, and to which the kingdom of heaven is compared, where it is said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king which made a marriage for his son, This marriage is the marriage of goodness and truth, thus the marriage of the LORD with His church, and with every individual composing the church, and therefore whether we speak of the LORD's