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SERMON VIII.

THE MARRIAGE AT CANA IN GALILEE.

John. ii. 1, 2.

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.

AMONG the Jews, when the nuptial ceremony was over, it was the custom for the bridegroom to conduct the bride and her companions to his own home, to partake of the marriage feast. This generally took place in the evening. A few select friends were commonly invited to the innocent festivity, and it appears that on this occasion, Jesus Christ-the God in human formwas among the appointed guests, together with his disciples.

Had our Saviour's miracles been recorded in a confused and irregular manner, instead of the systematic and orderly way in which we find them described, it might be a question of laudable curiosity among the pious, which was most likely to have been distinguished by priority. Was it raising the dead-healing the sickrecovering the demoniac, or restoring sight to the blind? The Scripture leaves no room for conjecture. It is expressly stated that the first miracle was performed at a marriage feast, and that its object was the promotion of harmony and comfort among the assembled guests.

The sacred history informs us that "there were set there six water-pots of stone after the manner of the purifying of the Jews." This was for the purpose of washing, or rather dipping, their hands, before and after the meal. To the observance of this custom the Jews attached a kind of superstitious importance. These vessels were very capacious, containing several gallons of our measure. They were perhaps about three parts full; this being an adequate supply for the particular occasion. But the Saviour, anticipating the performance of a

glorious miracle, which was to court the inspection of the whole company, directed that the vessels should be filled; "and they filled them up to the brim."

Then ensued the wonderful phenomenon. On a sudden, the colourless element assumed a ruby blush-its properties were changed-and the simple gift of nature was converted into the laborious product of human art.

As all the doings of our blessed Lord were not only features of his benevolent character, but also lessons of deep instruction for mankind to profit by, let us investigate this beautiful fragment of sacred biography, and see what improvement may be gathered from it.

First, as Christ sanctioned and honoured by his presence a wedding feast, and even distinguished it by the display of his first miracle, I infer the sanctity and excellence of that state of life, the commencement of which was thus graciously signalized.

The first person in the holy Trinity sanctified and joined together our original parents in this sacred rite; the second person graced the marriage festival by his presence; the third person,

speaking through the Holy Scriptures, represents the intimate union between Christ and his church by the similitude of the affection subsisting between the bride and the bridegroom.

Who then shall dare to dishonour a condition thus countenanced, and magnified, and pronounced to be a type of a great mystery? It is dishonoured by him, who, instead of seeking the affections of a kindred heart, transforms this solemn appointment of Heaven into an instrument for grasping another's wealth; who prefers the convenience of a legalized robbery to the sacred connexion of soul with soul; who can calculate, with cold-blooded tranquillity, on the length and breadth of the pocr victim's pecuniary possessions, making these the sole standard of her worth and when the prize has been won, can, without remorse, fling off the mask, and reveal the traitor, and follow up his vagrant amours, and look with indifference on the miserable wreck that he has created?

It is dishonoured by those who rush into it without premeditation of the consequences; with no provision, either present or prospective, for the requirements of a rising family, amid the frowns

of parents, and the discountenance of kindred, with nothing but a blind and furious passion to instigate to the fatal step. In vain is the voice of the priest uplifted to Almighty God, that he would send down his blessing upon such unhallowed unions. He has no where promised that he will befriend the rash and inconsiderate, any more than the spendthrift, who seeks to repair his shattered fortune, or the worshipper of gold, who aims at the fulfilment of his sordid views, by perverting the most sacred of institutions to the accomplishment of unholy desires.

In short, no alliance can be happy, unless Jesus Christ be a guest at the marriage table. What are beauty, wealth, or rank, if there is no spiritual ingredient in the union? The consolations appointed by God may be turned into sources of bitterness, by the perverseness of man. None but real Christians are capable of dwelling together in permanent love and peace. They live under a constant sense of their equal participation in the original corruption of their nature. This is one great strengthener of their union. They are aware of their own daily and hourly imperfections. This is ever productive of

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