3. What exalted thoughts we should entertain of
Christ's power —
[This was the peculiar improvement which our Lord him- self made of his miracle. And alas ! what need have we to be continually reminded on this subject! At every fresh difficulty we are ready to be discouraged, as though He were not able to deliver. And doubtless our unbelief often prevents him from exhibiting his wonders to our view"^. Has he not said that, If we believe, we shall see the glory of God^? Let us then be " strong in faith, giving glory to God." Let us never limit the power and grace of Christ, but with unskaken affiance fol- low the direction he has given us, " Look unto me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth, for I am God, and beside me there is none else."]
^ Matt. xiii. 58. ^ John xi. 40.
Matt. xxi. 28 — 3L But what think ye ? A certain man had two sons : and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to-day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not ; but afterivards he repented, and tvent. And he came to the secojid, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, Sir : and went not. Wliether of them twain did the will of his father ? They say unto him, The first. Jesus said unto them. Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
INVETERATE prejudice is scarcely ever to be overcome by the plainest arguments. There is no action, however praiseworthy, which it will not con- demn ; nor any reasoning, however conclusive, which it will not obstinately resist. The best way to conquer it is by secret and indirect attacks. This method our Lord frequently adopted, when every other had been tried in vain. The Pharisees, unconvinced by all our Lord's miracles, demanded by what authority he had presumed to purge the temple. Our Lord offered to satisfy their demand, if they would first inform him from whence John had derived his authority to administer baptism. They, aware of the drift of his question, and that in replying to it they must