I cannot but dwell a little on this particular, because I am persuaded the devil cannot lay a greater snare for young christians, than to tempt them unequally to yoke themselves with unbelievers: as are all who are not born again of GOD. This was the snare wherein the sons of GOD were entangled before the flood, and one great cause why God brought that flood upon the world. For what says _Moses_, _Genesis_ vi. 2, 3. “The sons of GOD (the posterity of pious _Seth_) saw the daughters of men, (or the posterity of wicked _Cain_) that they were fair, (not that they were pious) and they took them wives of all which they chose:” not which GOD chose for them. What follows? “And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh;” that is, even the few righteous souls being now grown carnal by their ungodly marriages, the whole world was altogether become abominable, and had made themselves vessels of wrath fitted for destruction. I might instance farther, the care the ancient patriarchs took to chuse wives for their children out of their own religious families; and it was one great mark of _Esau_’s rebellion against his father, that he took unto himself wives of the daughters of the _Canaanites_, who were strangers to the covenant of promise made unto his fathers. But I forbear. Time will not permit me to enlarge here. Let it suffice to advise all, whenever they enter into a marriage state, to imitate the people of _Cana_ in _Galilee_, to call CHRIST to the marriage: He certainty will hear and chuse for you; and you will always find his choice to be the best. He then will direct you to such yoke-fellows as shall be helps meet for you in the great work of your salvation, and then he will also enable you to serve him without distraction, and cause you to walk, as _Zachary_ and _Elizabeth_, in all his commandments and ordinances blameless.
But to proceed. Who these persons were that called our LORD and his disciples to the marriage, is not certain. Some (because it is said, that the mother of JESUS was there) have supposed that they were related to the Virgin, and that therefore our LORD and his disciples were invited on her account. However that be, it should seem they were not very rich, (for what had rich folks to do with a despised JESUS of _Nazareth_, and his mean followers?) because we find they were unfurnished with a sufficient quantity of wine for a large company, and therefore, “when they wanted wine, the mother of JESUS,” having, as it should seem by her applying to him so readily on this occasion, even in his private life, seen some instances of his miraculous power, “saith unto him, They have no wine.” She thought it sufficient only to inform him of the wants of the host, knowing that he was as ready to give as she to ask. In this light the blessed Virgin’s request appears to us at the first view; but if we examine our LORD’s answer, we shall have reason to think there was something which was not right; for JESUS saith unto her, verse 4. “Woman, what have I to do with thee?” Observe, he calls her woman, not mother; to shew her, that though she was his mother, as he was man, yet she was his creature, as he was GOD. “What have I to do with thee?” Think you that I must work miracles at your bidding? Some have thought that she spoke as though she had an authority over him, which was a proud motion, and our LORD therefore checks her for it. And if JESUS CHRIST would not turn a little water into wine, whilst he was here on earth, at her command, how idolatrous is that church, and how justly do we separate from her, which prescribes forms, wherein the Virgin is desired to command her Son to have compassion on us!
But notwithstanding the holy Virgin was blameable in this respect, yet she hath herein set rich and poor an example which it is your duty to follow. You that are rich, and live in cieled houses, learn of her to go into the cottages of the poor; your LORD was not above it, and why should you? And when you do visit them, like the virgin-mother, examine their wants; and when you see they have no wine, and are ready to perish with hunger, shut not up your bowels of compassion, but bless the LORD for putting it in your power to administer to their necessities. Believe me, such visits would do you good. You would learn then to be thankful that GOD has given you bread enough, and to spare. And I am persuaded, every mite that you bestow on feeding the hungry and cloathing the naked disciples of JESUS CHRIST, will afford you more satisfaction at the hour of death, and in the day of judgment, than all the thousands squandered away in balls and assemblies, and such-like entertainments.