_Secondly_, he might do this to reward the host for calling him and his disciples to the marriage. JESUS CHRIST will not be behind-hand with those who receive him or his followers, for his name’s sake. Those who thus honour him, he will honour. A cup of cold water given in the name of a disciple, shall in no wise lose its reward. He will turn water into wine. Though those who abound in alms-deeds, out of a true faith in, and love for JESUS, may seem as it were to throw their bread upon the waters, yet they shall find it again after many days. For they who give to the poor out of this principle, lend unto the LORD; and look, whatsoever they lay out, it shall be repaid them again. Even in this life, GOD often orders good measure pressed down and running over, to be returned into his servants bosoms. It is the same in spirituals. To him that hath, and improves what he hath, for the sake of CHRIST and his disciples, shall be given, and he shall have abundance. Brethren, I would not boast; but, to my master’s honour and free grace be it spoken, I can prove this to be true by happy experience. When I have considered that I am a child, and cannot speak, and have seen so many of you come out into the wilderness to be fed, I have often said within myself, what can I do with my little stock of grace and knowledge among so great a multitude? But, at my LORD’s command, I have given you to eat of such spiritual food as I had, and before I have done speaking, have had my soul richly fed with the bread which cometh down from heaven. Thus shall it be done to all such who are willing to spend and be spent for CHRIST or his disciples; for there is no respect of persons with GOD.
_Thirdly_, Our LORD’s turning the water, which was poured out so plentifully, into wine, is a sign of the plentiful pouring out of his Spirit into the hearts of believers. The holy Spirit is in scripture compared unto wine; and therefore the prophet calls us to buy wine as well as milk, that is, the spirit of love, which fills and gladdens the soul as it were with new wine. The apostle alludes to this, when he bids the _Ephesians_ “not to be drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit.” And our LORD shews us thus much by chusing wine; to shew forth the strength and refreshment of his blood, in the blessed sacrament. I know these terms are unintelligible to natural men, they can no more understand me, than if I spake to them in an unknown tongue, for they are only to be spiritually discerned. To you then that are spiritual do I speak, to you who are justified by faith, and feel the blessed Spirit of JESUS CHRIST working upon your hearts, you can judge of what I say; you have already (I am persuaded) been as it were filled with new wine by the inspiration of his Holy Spirit. But alas! you have not yet had half your portion; these are only earnests, and in comparison but shadows of good things to come; our LORD keeps his best wine for you till the last; and though you have drank deep of it already, yet he intends to give you more: He will not leave you, ’till he has filled you to the brim, ’till you are ready to cry out, LORD, stay thine hand, thy poor creatures can hold no more! Be not straitened in your own bowels, since JESUS CHRIST is not straitened in his. Open your hearts as wide as ever you will, the Spirit of the LORD shall fill them. CHRIST deals with true believers, as _Elijah_ did with the poor woman, whose oil increased, to pay her husband’s debts; as long as she brought pitchers, the oil continued. It did not cease till she ceased bringing vessels to contain it. My brethren, our hearts are like those pitchers; open them freely by faith, and the oil of GOD’s free gift, the oil of gladness, the love of GOD through CHRIST, shall be continually pouring in; for believers are to be filled with all the fulness of GOD.