institution, as "honourable in all." honourable in all." We learn too that there are certain occasions on which social intercourse with our friends may be lawfully enjoyed on a more extended scale of cheerful festivity, than the ordinary duties of life, and other important considerations connected with our real welfare, would generally admit.

While, however, we deprecate that unsocial and superstitious austerity which would prohibit all intercourse of such a kind as that of which we now speak, let us no less abhor every species, and every degree, of conviviality, which we know from his general character, that our blessed Lord would not have sanctioned with his presence. We cannot for a moment doubt that at this marriage feast regularity and temperance were duly observed; and we have the strongest reason to believe that our Lord would avail himself of such an opportunity to convey important admonition and instruction to those who were present, on the subject of their eternal interests. This, indeed, he might frequently do during the extended period of the feast.

Having now sufficiently adverted to the occasion on which the recorded miracle was performed, let us notice,

II. In the second place, THE CIRCUMSTANTIAL

ACCOUNT OF THE MIRACLE ITSELF.

From some cause or other, probably in consequence of the number of guests being considerably greater than had been anticipated, the wine provided for the

entertainment was found inadequate to the necessity of the occasion. This circumstance became known to the mother of our Lord, who consequently accosted him in reference to it: "And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine." This information she no doubt communicated, in the hope that he would supply the deficiency by the exercise of that power which she knew that he possessed.

The reply to this address is certainly remarkable. "Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come." We are not to suppose that there was any thing uncourteous, much less disrespectful, in the appellation by which our Lord accosted his mother. However strange it may be thought as compared with the usage of our own times and language, numerous examples are found in the purest classical writers of antiquity, of the very same mode of address being adopted, not only by princes conversing with ladies of the highest quality, but by servants when speaking to their mistresses. The reply of our Lord, nevertheless, conveyed an intimation, that the exercise of his Divine power was not in any respect subject to the control or direction of an earthly parent. The moment as well as the manner of his acting was entirely at his own disposal. This is an observation which we should bear in mind, as furnishing a caution to ourselves in our approaches to the throne of grace. Our time indeed is always ready, when we seek some favour of which we feel the immediate want; but it is incumbent upon us,

while we present our petitions in humility, to tarry the Lord's leisure in reference to the accomplishment of those things which we ask even according to his will-fully assured that his infinite wisdom will order all things for the best. We cannot but observe, however, that our Lord gave his mother reason to expect that he would, at the proper time, interpose in such way as she desired. So much as this his words appear evidently to imply. Under this impression, we may conclude, she gave direction to those who waited on the guests, strictly to obey the commands which he might give them: "His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it."

"And there were set there six water-pots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece." The ceremonial purifications observed among the Jews were, in the time of our Lord, very numerous; comprising not only those which were appointed by the law of God,' but many others that were then practised in compliance with the tradition of the elders.'1 For the purposes of these purifications a large supply of water was required to be in constant readiness on extraordinary occasions; and for the containing of such supply the water-pots here mentioned were provided. It is impossible to determine with precision what was the capacity of these vessels, our means of information on the point being extremely defective. Some have computed them to contain together upwards of a

I Doddridge's note in loe.

hundred gallons; others have reckoned their contents at about half that quantity; while calculations have also been made which materially differ from both these estimates.

"Jesus saith unto them, Fill the water-pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim." By this complete execution of our Lord's command, the most satisfactory evidence was afforded that no artifice or delusion could be practised-as the sceptic might otherwise be ready to object-by mixing wine with the water.

"And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. of the feast. And they bare it." The governor of the feast was the person whose office it was to superintend and conduct the festival with just propriety and decorum'-' to take care that there were neither any want, nor any irregularities or excess. To him therefore our Lord properly directed the servants to present for his examination what was, if approved by him, to be distributed to the guests.

"When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew ;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, and saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth

1 Horne and Guyse. See also Stackhouse's History of the Bible. The following remark of Theophylact, quoted by Parkhurst, seems well worth our attention, and will explain what was the business of the agxirgIKAIVOS. 'That no one, saith he, might suspect that their taste was so vitiated by excess as to imagine water to be wine, our Saviour directs it to be tasted by the governor of the feast, who certainly was sober; for those who on such occasions are intrusted with this office, observe the strictest sobriety, that every thing may, by their orders, be conducted with regularity and decency.'"

good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse but thou hast kept the good wine until now." That a miraculous change had been effected, would doubtless be speedily and generally understood. The servants well knew that what they had poured into the vessels at our Lord's command was pure water. They knew also that from those same vessels which they had so filled up to the brim, they had immediately drawn out, by direction of the same authority, what they presented to the ruler of the feast. This, however, the governor, who was not acquainted with what had previously occurred, at once discovered to be wine of a superior quality. To its peculiar excellence he bore a most decided testimony, by expressing his astonishment at the supposed extraordinary conduct of the bridegroom, who, he imagined, contrary to prevailing custom, had caused an inferior kind of wine to be presented to his guests in the earlier part of the feast, and had reserved that which was of a far higher quality to its close. Nothing can more completely argue the entire change which had been effected, than this incidental attestation as to the superior excellence of the latter supply of wine, when we connect it in our minds with the explanation which would doubtless be given in the reply of the bridegroom on the one hand, and the information of the servants on the other. We are led then to consider,

III. In the last place, THE IMPORTANT RESULT

WHICH FOLLOWED.

"This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana