11parL from family life; and it is not e. good sign of the morals of n community when men's social enjoyments are disconnected from virtuous women and from holy homes. ~t is unirnr~aHy ackno_wledged that Christ has exalted wonmn to hor rightful and rntcnd~ pos1t10n; and 1t has not genera.Hy been considered how largely this effect hns been owmg to out· Lord's treatment, first of his own mother, and secondly of the bride of Cana, ~u t~is occasion .. The ~omcstic relations should form th~ nucleus, so to spcnk, of the social life of huma.mty. 'I hey arc the true and Di vine antidote to man's selfish- ness nud passions. A.nd Christ teaches us tha.t pleasure is to be found, not only in the world, in the society of ihe profiiga.te, but in that home-life, those sacred relo.tions which are too generally regarded a.s associated with disappointment, cheerlessness, and misery. V. THE LORD JESUS APPROVED AND PROMOTED INNOCENT FESTIVITY. In his pro,ision of wine for the wedding-feast, we observe that Jesus did two things. 1. He ~ave bis friends what was not an absolute necessity, but an enjoyment, a luxury. The guests might ha,e drunk water, but the Divine Friend did not choose that they should be compelled to do so. He gives us better gifts than we deserve, if not better than we desire. 2. He gave his frien.ds abundance, more than onough for the occasion. There was a supply for future need. It is thus that he reveals the liberality of his heart and the mun.ificence of his provision.-'!'. Vers.1-11.~esu.sand the marriage-state. Of the services which our Lord Christ has rendered to human society, none is more conspicuous and undeniable than the honour which he 1;as put up?n marriage. . Of all institutions a.nd relations existing among men., there 1s noue winch has met with so much sla.n.der, hate, a.nd scorn, M matrimony. 'l'he sinful and the selfish, not content with avoiding marriage themselves, overwhelm those who honour and enter upon weJded life with ridicule and contempt. This is not to be wondered at, inasmuch as true a.nd honourable marriage in.volves abstinence from unlawful pleasures, and also a. fidelity and constancy of affection amidst the changes, responsibilities, a.nd troubles incident to this estate. From the narrative before us, and other in.stances in our Saviour's life a.nd teaching, we learn that Christ commandH, san.ctions, and hallows matrimony for many sufficient reasons. L As TEl.'DrnG TO BO:Noun woMA:NBOOD, Those who disparage wedded life a.re usually fouud to t.ake a base view of the feminine sex, to regard women rather as instruments of sensual pleasure than as the honourable companions of men. The true wife takes a position which not only ennobles herself, but raises her sex. In this respect marriage is in complete opposition to concubinage and polygamy and those temporary alliances which there seems a disposition, even in some civilized communities, to look upon with favour. IL As OOM:BA TTING THE SELF.LSBNESS OF sn."FUL HEN. Many a. naturally self-indulgent and self-seeking man has experienced the benefit of a relationship which has drawn his thoughts away from self, and has led him to interest himself in his wife and children, and for their sake to labour with strenuous diligence, and to submit patiently to incon- veniences an.d privations. I.ustead of living to gratify himself, and regarding the othe1· sex as offering opportunities for such gratification, such a man has learned to look upon hum.an life as an opportunity for bearing the burdens and cheering the lot of others. And virtuous fidelity becomes a silent but effectual witness against the prevalent and seducti~e vices of mankind. III. As PROMOTIVE OF THE TRUE WELFABE OF SOCIETY, The family is the divinely ordered unit of human society. 'l'his has been recognized even in. pagan nations. Dut Christianity, in giving to the world a higher ideal of marriage, has rendered a vast service to every Christian state. The increase of the population, the prevalence of iodustry and of knowledge, the formation of virtuous habits, all contribute to national prosperity ; and all are promoted by the sacredness and honour of the ma.1Tia.ge-tie. IV. As CONTRIBUTIVE TO TBE PilOSPEB!TY OF THE CHRISTIAN OHUROB, It ie in 1.ioly households that the most intelligent and useful and steadfast members of Christian Churches are trained; it is from these that the ranks of the spiritual ministries are recruited; it i..l' these th;;t hand down the uncorrupted truth fron1 generation to gonera- r.iou. The children of prayer and watchfulness riso up to become the elrong men iii Ll;1; arsenals and in the armies of the Eternal, OIL II, 1-26.] TUE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. 99
V. As EMDLEMATIO OF DIVINE LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS. Christ himself implanted tho gorm of that idol\ of the spiritual and Divine marriacre which so developed under tho Apostle Paul. lie is tho true Bridogroom, and his Church is tho true bride. But for our appreciation of what is involved in this mystic and hallowed relationship we are dependant upon our acquaintance and experience of matrimony as existiocr in human society, Thus we learn what depth of meaning lies in the statement, "Christ loved bis spouso the Church, and gave himself for it I "-T.