so quickly after, may be, either his desire of doing it in the most private manner, with the least observation, as for the most part we find he afterwards took care to do his other wonders; which should teach us great modesty and humility in the exercise of even the most noble gifts, without the least tincture of vainglory and self-seeking, or just occasion given to any one to censure us as guilty of it: or else it was to let us know that private regards should have no place in our discharge of any public function; that our nearest relations and best friends should have no influence there, but that we fix our eye entirely upon the directions that God hath given us, and make it our sole aim to do him all the honour, and our brethren all the good we can in our several stations, in firm resolution of not being swayed otherwise by any solicitations whatever, from whomsoever they may come. Woman, says Jesus to his holy mother, (as if he had then forgot his near relation to her,) what have I to do with thee, in things of this high nature?" Though I was subject to "thee when in a private life, yet now you must not interpose, but leave me to a higher guidance in "finishing the great work which I came into the "world to do. Mine hour is not yet come, and I

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I am the best judge of the places, and times, and seasons, of exerting the divine power which my heavenly Father hath given me, so as may most "conduce to the great ends for which I have re"ceived it."

And agreeably we find, Matt. xii. 46, when our Lord was surrounded by great numbers of people, whose diseases he healed, and who were listening to his heavenly discourses, and his mother and his

brethren stood without desiring to speak with him, and could not come at him for the press, and whose business, probably, was to desire him not to spend himself too much, nor go too far in exasperating the Scribes and Pharisees against him, by his free and sharp and open reproofs; he answered to one that told him of it, Who is my mother, and who are my brethren? "I have no regard to private friendship "and relation, in prosecuting the great affairs of "my office and ministry;" and then, he stretched forth his hand towards his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren; for whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

But to proceed in the sixth verse we are told, that there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. For at every common meal they had frequent use of water, to wash their hands before they eate, and to rince their cups and other vessels, besides what was provided for their drinking, and they were superstitiously nice and scrupulous in such things; and therefore at their public feasts greater preparation than ordinary was made of water for these uses as here were six large waterpots of stone, and which were almost emptied, and Jesus ordered the waiters to fill them once again, and they filled them up to the brim.

We may well think the servants wondered what should be the meaning, that after the blessed Virgin had told her Son of the want there was of wine, he should bid them fetch so great a quantity of water, e Mark vii. 2, &c.

which they had no need of. But they remembered the charge she gave them, and therefore readily obeyed his orders, without further questioning what was the design of them, as otherwise it is probable they would have done; for to all appearance it was but labour in vain, which servants in the hurry of a feast are not overhasty to undertake at the sole direction of a stranger. But, how odd soever the thing might seem to them, they presently did it, and not without great expectation of what would follow.

Now from this passage we may learn, that a ready and cheerful obedience to our great Master's commands, must make way for the wonders of his mercy to us; and be the commands seemingly never so strange and unusual, never so contrary to our own judgments and inclinations, full of labour and difficulty, and as we may think to little or no purpose; yet let them be observed without delay, with a sincere diligence, not unwillingly and by halves, but throughly to the best of our power, in a faithful expectation of the blessed consequence; and then, in our Lord's good time, we shall plentifully reap the happy fruits of our obedience to his glory, and our own unspeakable joy and satisfaction.

But if we are faithless and backward, and dispute the expediency, or think much of the labour, or question the practicableness of any of the commands of Jesus; we do but deceive ourselves, if we think to share in the favours and felicities, which God hath empowered him to bestow on those who do whatever he commands f: for it is in vain to expect

f John xv. 14.

to be treated as his friends, and to enter into his joy, without being diligent and faithful in his service 8.

Ye therefore that pretend to be his servants, whatsoever he saith unto you, do it; do it with alacrity, and let nothing be wanting to complete what he hath given you in charge; spare no pains, make no objections, desist not till you have done your utmost, and then, with humble confidence in your great Master's power and goodness, trust the event with him.

For when the waiters had filled the waterpots with water, and that even up to the brim; he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.

And then they saw to what good purpose their labour was bestowed; then their wonder ceased; that when wine was wanting he should make them drudge for water; and a much greater wonder took its place, when that same water was become most rich and generous wine: for when the governor of the feast, or he that, according to the custom of the Jews, was to take care of the decent and orderly management of every thing, had tasted of the water that was thus made wine, and knew not whence it was: (though the servants that drew it knew ;) he called the bridegroom, and said unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.

Now this could not but make the bridegroom wonder extremely, who knew the stock he had laid

g Matt. xxv. 21.

in was spent, and was under the uneasiness of so shameful a failure at his wedding-feast, and very probably could by no means presently provide a new supply.

But when upon further inquiry the servants related the whole matter, and told how they had filled the waterpots with water at the direction of Jesus; and up to the brim too, (so that no room was left for any mixture of what might make it look or drink like wine,) and then that at his command they drew some out, and gave it to the ruler of the feast, who, having tasted the noble liquor, and as yet knowing nothing of its miraculous production, commended the bridegroom's unusual generosity, as we have heard; and every one being himself a witness of the great plenty and extraordinary goodness of the wine; how were they all seized with inexpressible astonishment! And what a flush of holy joy, think we, filled the soul of the blessed Virgin at this first manifestation of the glory of her divine Son! And what full conviction was this, to every one that would not obstinately resist it, that he was the expected Christ! for nothing could effect so great a miracle as this, but the almighty power of God; who would not, we may be confident, communicate that power of his to an impostor and deceiver. And accordingly the text says, that by this wondrous work he manifested forth his glory, and his disciples believed on him.

Indeed, none but the Lord of nature, or one assisted by his power, could by a bare act of his will, without either word or touch, or the infusion of any thing whatsoever, immediately turn water into the richest wine. Here the subject of the