years of age, the time required by the Jewish law for entering into the office of teacher; and we find, after his public baptism by John, that he departed into Galilee, where the events we are considering took place.

"From henceforward he had nothing to do with his human parent; the time for manifesting forth his glory was arrived; and in his frequent miracles and heavenly teaching, the Divinity shone forth. But, he adds, My hour is not yet come' (John ii. 4); his time for working had not arrived; perhaps the wine was not entirely exhausted: if so, its want would not be felt; therefore a fresh supply would not be duly appreciated. Christ's time is always the best; and though it often happens an answer to our prayers seems long in coming, nevertheless, 'though it tarry, let us wait for it;' because, if we ask according to his will, he will hear us,' and in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.' Mary does not appear to have been discouraged by the reply she received from Jesus, though it is evident she felt and saw he was no longer under her control, and that she must not presume to dictate to him when or how he was to exercise his sacred ministry."

"How beautifully," remarked Mr. Lawrence," does this portion destroy the fabric erected by Rome, wherein she endeavours to make it appear that the Virgin possesses such power that she may even command the Redeemer to act according to her will! But if he turned away from her on earth, how much more now that he is exalted far above all created things, and before whom ten thousand times ten thousand bow the knee!" "Yes," replied Mr. C- "Jehovah is jealous of his honour, and his glory he will not give to another;' idolatry, with its numerous varieties, has ever been hateful to him; and to pray to any being, saint or angel, is an insult to God, and blasphemy against our Lord Jesus Christ, the only Mediator between God and his creature man.

"At length the hour did arrive, when Jesus determined to repay the master of the feast for his hospitality, and, at the same time, deliver him from an unpleasant dilemma. It is recorded, that in the room were set six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins a-piece,' (John ii. 6.) A firkin measured from 7 to 9 gallons; therefore, six of these vessels held a considerable quantity of water, which was placed for the various washings of the people, prescribed by the law and by the traditions of the elders,

(Mark vii. 8.) Our Lord was pleased to order the servants to fill the waterpots with water; and there was such an indescribable majesty about him, that, though of necessity much engaged in their attendance upon the guests, it is added, that 'they filled them up to the brim,' which must have taken considerable time and labour. No sooner was the command obeyed, than he said unto them, 'Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast.'

"How astonished they must have been to see the liquid, which only a few minutes before they drew as pure as crystal from the fountain, now transferred into wine!-and still more must they have wondered, when they heard the commendations of the governor of the feast, who called to the bridegroom and said, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse; but thou hast kept the good wine until now,' (ver. 10.)

"In all the large entertainments given by the Jews, a ruler or governor was appointed, whose office it was to maintain order, and to attend to the wants of the guests; we therefore find this man express his astonishment at the bridegroom keeping the good wine till the last, when those who were present had had sufficient, and could not appreciate its superiority. There are two important subjects to be noticed in this history," continued the pastor; "one is, that our Lord, by gracing this feast with his presence, showed that he did not disapprove of social intercourse; but that such should always be regulated with a desire of his spiritual presence, levity and excess being banished from amongst us, as becometh saints:-the second is, that the institution of marriage is sacred; and that that religion which forbids it to those professedly devoting themselves to the service of God is false, being contrary to the whole tenor of Scripture, both of the Old and New Testament.

"After the wedding rejoicings were over, our Lord went to Capernaum for a few days, just before John the Baptist was imprisoned; it was a large and populous city, about a day's journey from Cana; and in Matt. ix. 1 it is honoured by being called His own city.' The time of the Passover was at hand, and therefore he hasted to be at Jernalem: then upon his arrival he entered the temple, polluted by those who sold oxen, and making a market-place of its courts. treated in such a manner, as proved he

came armed with more than human power; for, making himself a scourge of small cords, he rushed in amongst them, driving them all out of the temple, together with the sheep and the oxen; he poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables, saying unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise,' (John ii. 15, 16.)"

"There are those who justify these traders," observed Mr. Basil, "and say, that as the articles were not for common traffic, but for the accommodation of the worshippers, the proceedings which moved the indignation of our Lord were generally considered justifiable by the Jews."

"Very true," replied Mr. C- ; "but is it not always the case that nominal professors will constantly find excuses for the defence of their conduct, however at variance with the word of God? These merchants felt they were guilty. We do not read of one demanding by what authority our Lord acted; on the contrary, a supernatural awe took possession of their minds. Unmindful of their money, and heedless of their goods, which, besides birds and animals, consisted of salt, oil, wine, and other requisites used in the ceremonial worship, they fled before their Reprover and his uplifted scourge, mingling with the affrighted beasts, who added to the strange confusion by the wild terror that possessed them."

"It must have been a wonderful sight," remarked Hyford. "The whole transaction," replied Mr. C, "is an exhibition of Divine power, which our Lord occasionally displayed. I love to contemplate it, to contrast it with his usually meek and gentle deportment, to behold him armed with an authority no one offered to dispute; and to hear him exclaim, 'Make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.' No judgment, no threatening, no reproaches for the past escaped him: in few words, he reminded them of the sanctity of the place, for it was the house of God, his Father's house, and the profanations that had so long been permitted were to cease for ever. But, my dear friends," added the pastor, we must not complete our contemplation of this interesting occurrence without endeavouring to profit by it.

"Often has my spirit been grieved by our houses of prayer being turned into houses of merchandise. I do not speak of the synagogues of the Jews, where, it is well known, they transact most of their worldly business, but of us Christians, who ought to know and act differently,

inasmuch as we enjoy the light of a brighter and more glorious dispensation. How frequently are appointments made, and business settled, before and after Divine service! And truly, this is one of the most prolific means employed by Satan for catching away the seed just sown, and thus rendering it totally unproductive. But furthermore, let us look inward, and ask ourselves if our minds are not too frequently employed in settling temporal accounts, in various schemes of trade, in considering what we shall say to such a person on such a business when we see him?

"In short, my dear friends, is it not the lamentable truth, that before the Searcher of hearts we act much more as if we were in a market-place than in the house erected to his honour, and for the purpose of worshipping him in spirit and in truth? 'All things are naked and open in the sight of Him with whom we have to do,' and whom we profess to adore. Supposing in a congregation every person was compelled by a secret, irresistible impulse to utter aloud his thoughts, by way of answering the responses, what would be the result?"

"Indeed, Sir," said Hyford, "it would be a strange one; very seldom, I fear, consistent with the sacred service. Oh, what blasphemy it would be called! and so in truth it would; for instance, (I am only now thinking of myself, so I mean no offence to any one ;) I hear you say, 'O Lord, show thy mercy upon us!' but instead of entreating for His salvation, I am debating in my own mind whether I shall go to Worcester Fair to-morrow, and whether it would be well to send a couple of cows that have been feeding in the stalls; then comes on a train of thoughts as to its being desirable or not, and if I can get there in time, and while I am away what each man is to do. Now, all the time I am settling these matters, I am on my knees, and I am off my knees, standing or sitting as the case may be, passing for a very devout worshipper, but a very hypocrite in the sight of God.

"Oh, Sir! I do mourn over my wandering thoughts in God's house; they are a heavy burden to me; and I pray most fervently for the Lord the Spirit to give me the spirit of prayer, and grant me grace not to draw nigh to him with my lips when my heart is far from him. I often start for church, Sir, with my heart quite light; I try to leave the world and forget its cares, but my return home is too often a sad contrast; my cares have walked faster than me, and have presented themselves in every imaginable form

before I have been half an hour in my seat; and then, instead of being able to praise my God for the sweet manifestations of his presence, I have felt as a culprit ; and were I to listen to the suggestions of my enemy, who has thus far triumphed over me, I should refrain from entreating pardon also, thus making matters ten times worse. Oh, Sir," added the old man, "I long to be delivered from the body of this death, for I do continually the thing which I hate."

"Yes," replied Mr. C, and feel from experience the truth of what I have often told you; namely, that when the Holy Spirit enters into a person, he does not remove his old original corrupt nature, but implants another holy, living principle, proceeding from Himself, which keeps down, and restrains, to a certain degree, the evil that dwells within. But it is not destroyed, as some people imagine; no, nor ever will be while we are in the flesh, for it will be ever on the watch to gain the ascendancy; and nothing but the strong influences of the Lord the Spirit will, or can, keep it under. When, therefore, you are under the influences of besetting sin, whatever its nature or character, rouse yourself, and gird on your spiritual weapons; plead in prayer that the gracious promise may be fulfilled to you, 'That when the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord may lift up his standard against him,' (Isa. lix. 19.)

"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God?' says St. Paul, (1 Cor. iii. 16,) and the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.' Ask him therefore to enter therein, and purge it by his own mighty power; implore him to give you grace to take these things hence, and no longer to make his Father's house a house of merchandise; then you will find his service sweet to your soul, his worship your delight, his hours most precious, his day the holy of the Lord, wherein you will be favoured with gracious manifestations of his presence; and having settled, on the last day of the week, your worldly concerns and earthly cares, you will, by strictly forbidding the thought of them to intrude, find in due time the advantage of the advice I have given you, and be enabled to serve your gracious Lord without distraction."

R. CLAY, PRINTER, BREAD STREET HILL.