I. D1nNE ESPOUSALS, Then shall it be proclllimod, •• 'l'he marriage of the Lamb ie con1e." Il. Co1'.GE~lAL SOCIETY. The mother and brethren of tho Lord, the disciples, the happy p1m, the Joyous guests, figure the assembly and Church of the Firstborn. Ill. Ai'FNDANT PROVISION. As Jesus secured an ample supply for want nnd for <'njoyment, so shall the banqueting-house of the immortals bo richly furnished with 1111 spiritual viands for satisfaction 1md for delight. l Y. PERPETUAL FESTIVITIES. The Jews celebrated a wedding by festivities extendina0 0Ye-r ~C'vcrnl days; but of tho feast of slllvatiou and of life there shall be no end, "messed a.re they which are bidden to the marriage-supper of the Lamb."-'l'. Yer. 8.-" They have no wine." Just as the scarcity of provisions in the wilderness ga,•e Jesus an opportunity to supply the need of a multitude; just ns it was permitted that a man should be born blind," that the works of God should be manifest in him·" so the falling short. of the supply of wine at Cana gave an opportunity for the pcrfor~- ance by Christ of a beneficent and instructive miracle. And the lesson is one widely impres,ive and helpful which is thus conveyed concerning human need and Divine grace and supply. I. Goo LETS MEN WANT. It is a paradox, but it is a truth, that it is for our good to suffer need of many kinds. 1. Thus he teaches us how slender are our resources, and how soon cxh:msted. 2. Thus it is suggested to us to look without, to look above, for the satisfaction of our desires. 3. Thus it is arranged that, when Gud interposes upon our behalf, we shall welcome and value his intervention. II. Goo SUPPLIES MEN'S WANTS AND SATISFIES TllEIB DESIRES, 1. He does this at the right moment, when the pressure is heavy enough, but not too heavy. 2. He does this in the exercise of his own power, that the glory may be his. 3. He does this in a gracious and affectionate manner, displaying his sympathy as well as his authority. JIJ. THE Pun.POSES SUBSEUVED BY THE SUPPLY OF HUMAN NEED BY DIVINE BOUNTY, 1. All blessings come thus to be regarded as the immediate bestowments of Heaven. 2. And are seen to be the outward revelations of the attributes of the Father's heart. 3. And are the occasion of devout a.cknowledgment and fervent adora.tion.-T. Ver. 4.-" Mine l,our is not yet come." God has his own times for all his works. His Son, Christ Jesus, knew no haste; he laboured sometimes to exhaustion; he shrank from no suffering or privation. Yet he was thirty years of age before he began his ministry; and now and again in the course of that ministry he withdrew from the public gaze. When the time ea.me for conflict and death, he was ready for the encounter. But until the time came he was not to be forced into the position which he knew he was to take. Neither the urgency of bis mother and his brethren, nor the restlessness of some of his disciples, nor the impulses of the multitude, could move him to take a step for which he was not yet prepared. "Mine hour," said he," is not yet come." There was- L .A.N HOUR FOR HIS ADVENT. This seems to us to have come late in the history of our sinful humanity. But it was in "the fulness of the time" that Jesus came. II. A SEASON FOR BIS ENTRANCE UPON THE PUBLIO MINISTRY, Why this should have been deferred so long, it is impossible for us to say; but there was a sufficient reason. A delay which seems to us protracted is as a moment to the Eternal. IlL A TUIE FOR THE JU.NIFESTATION OF ms GLORY BY MIUA0LEB. Again and again the Jews, and even his own disciples, impatiently urged the Lord to assert his supernatural power. It was characteristic of him that he commenced his series of "signs" in the quiet domestic scene at Cana. He was not to be hastened in this or in any of his plans. IV. .A1' HOUR FOR HlB GIVING UP OF HIMSELF TO DIE. We cannot read the words (If the text, spokeu at the commencement of liis public life, without having our thoughts
carded, by way of contrast, to the close of that wonderful career, when our Lord exclaimed, "Father, the hour is come!" Until then, none could take from him his life. V. A TIME FOll TRE OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY Snnrr, AND FOR 'l'HE EVANGELlZATION OF THE wonLD. Jesus had wai~d, and, after his ascen11ioo, his disciples were enjoined CII, 11. 1-25.] 'II-IE GOSPEL ACCOnDING TO S'f. ,JOHN. 101
to wnit The promise or the Father was to ho fulfillecl in its a.ppointo,J time; when they should receive power from on high, then we.s to commence the areat work of their lire. " VI. AN HOUR FOR TIIE SECOND COMING. " Goel hath appointed a day." "or that de.y and hour knoweth no man." Why should we, like Mary, like the Rhort-si,,hted disciples, urge e.nd implore the immediate appearance of the Lord? His hour h~~ not yet arrived, or he himself would be here. It is ours reverently to expect patiently to wait and hope. "IIo that cometh will come, and will not tarry."-T. '