the cafe before us. He marked the attention of the difciples, who were watching his fteps; with great condefcenfion he invited them to accompany him home, and admitted them to a free and delightful intercourse with himself.

And who, that have obtained the knowledge of Jefus, will not burn with a defire to recommend him to the notice and esteem of their friends? Have we not a brother or a fifter, whom, through a plain and faithful teftimony of our experience, we may introduce to the Saviour? Thus it was, by the declaraions and influence of Andrew, that Peter was rought to him, and immediately taken into his fervice, under a new and fignificant name. Every visi. tant met with a kind reception from him; nor will any at this time be rejected, who fincerely apply to

him.

He

But all his difciples do not come to him in the fame way. Some, we have obferved, owe their knowledge of him, and their first good impreffions, to their connections in life; while others are called, not through any previous acquaintance with religious perfons, but by an immediate, and, as it were, vifible exertion of divine grace. In various inftances he is "found of them, who fought him not *.” fpeaks fuddenly, not to their ears only, but to their hearts, prevents their objections, overrules their purpofes and defires, and makes them "willing in the day of his power +," to alter their courfe, and follow r. Thus, upon his removal to Galilee, met with Philip, than he faid unto him, " and inftantly conftrained him to forer occupation, and become his atten

and pious exultation will à difcovery of excite in the true believer! No wonder,

+ Pfal. cx. 3.

that

that he feels the warmest affections of gratitude, love, and zeal, and haftens to spread the influence around him. Philip was unable to contain the rapturous delight, now produced in his foul, and withing others to be as happy as himself, he took the first opportu nity of telling his friend Nathanael, that he had found the promised Meffiah.

Here a different character is presented to us. Nathanael, probably, as a fincere worshipper of God, like many others, "waited for the confolation of Ifrael;" but, though an upright man and under the beft impreffions, he was ftill kept back by the strength of popular prejudice. He could not admit, that any good thing, much less fo illuftrious a perfon as the Saviour of the world, could arife from the infamous town of Nazareth. He was induced, however, by the mild expoftulation and advice of Philip, to examine and judge for himself. On this occafion we admire the compaffion and tenderness of Jefus to the weakness and folly of those, who truly defire to know him. Upon Nathanael's first approach, fo far from upbraiding him with his ignorant and rafh conclufions, he expreffed the warmeft approbation of his integrity, and propofed him to the notice of others, "Behold an Ifraelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" Such a declaration from one, whom he had confidered as an entire ftranger, could not but astonish Nathanael : and, being referred to a particular place of retirement, where probably he had been engaged in devout meditation and prayer, and where Jefus affured him that his eye was upon him, an irrefiftible conviction broke in upon his mind. At once he faw his whole heart exposed to view, he felt his doubts and fcruples to be removed, and he acknowledged the prefence and the glory of the divine Saviour: "Rabbi," faid he, "thou art the Son of God; Thou art the King of Ifrael." This honeft and bold profeffion of his faith obtained a gracious acceptance. Jefus replied,

"Thou

"Thou fhalt fee greater things than thefe," adding, that from that hour he fhould behold fuch a train of miracles, as if heaven itfelf were opened, in attestation of his miffion. Thus likewife, in all cafes, the fincere convert fhall be favoured with increafing light, and ftrength, and comfort: "for unto every one that hath fhall be given, and he shall have abundance."

We perceive through the whole of this hiftory, that the grace of God operates in a fovereign manner. Here were two of a family, three of a city, called to the knowledge and the love of Chrift, while the greater part, perhaps of their friends and neighbours, remained strangers and enemies to him. Even fo it is now. He is confeffed, loved, and glorified by a few perfons in a town, and frequently by fuch as were previoufly connected together by kindred or acquaintance. Thefe, too, are fo oppofite to the reft in fentiments, principles, and practice, that "they are men wondered at †.' If any fhould be difpofed to afk, why thefe are felected rather than others, we have nothing to anfwer, but cry out in devout admiration, "Even fo, Father; for fo it seemed good in thy fight." He may, doubtlefs, beftow his, grace, where and how he pleafes. Hence also we obferve a variety in the cafes of his people: and therefore we fhould not be forward to condemn any one, merely because his religious experience differs from that of another. Let us not arrogantly prefcribe unto God, bow before him, and acknowledge, that "the of all the earth will furely do right." Inftead furing the "diverfities of his operations," let ore the riches of his mercy. If the most disent and rebellious be willing to fubmit unto , he will graciously receive them. Their mifchenfions, fears, and unbelief, may for a time

prevent their recourse to him; but no fooner do they discover a real defire to become his difciples, than he meets them with expreffions of his kindness, admits them to a familiar intercourfe with himself, and " fills them with joy and peace in believing."

Let us, then, make the application to ourselves, and ask, Are we "the called of Jesus Christ?" It is of little confequence, comparatively, by what particular means we have been affected; but are we indeed brought to the knowledge and love of his name? Do we poffefs that warmth of affection, that ardent zeal for him, which these young converts fhewed? Do we, like them, bear witnefs, "We have found the Meffiah?" And are we difpofed to "follow the Lamb, whitherfoever he goeth?"

Soon after our Lord's arrival in Galilee, he and the few difciples, whom he had now attached to himfelf, were invited to a marriage; probably the marriage of a relation, fince his mother and fome other of his kindred were there *. He was not inattentive to the calls of focial life, nor wanting in any offices of refpect and kindness to thofe, with whom he was nearly connected. He condefcended, therefore, to be prefent upon that occafion, and to partake of the entertainment. Our church has inferred from this circumftance, that "he adorned and beautified the holy estate of matrimony." Doubtless, he testified his approbation of it: nor do his profeffed followers prove any real fanctity in themfelves, or promote his caufe among men, by defpifing that inftitution, which is declared to be "honourable in all t." The religionof Jefus does not require that morofenefs and entire separation from fociety, into which fome weak, but pious, perfons have been led, through the fear of conforming to the world. They have made Chrif tianity appear with a very gloomy and forbidding af

*John ii. 1, &c.

VOL. III.

+ Heb. xiii. 4.

E

pect,

conduct, but only betray their own deformity upon a comparison of themselves with his perfect excellence. The mifreprefentation feems to have arifen from that addrefs to the bridegroom; "Every man at the beginning doth fet forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worfe; but thou hait kept the good wine until now." This, however, defcribes merely what was ufual at entertainments, and has not any neceffary reference to that particular occafion; or, admitting that it had, it would not prove, that any of the company then affembled were in a state of intoxication. The word itself, rendered WELL DRUNK, does not always mean excefs; as it is applied by the beft authors to cafes, wherein temperance was obferved.

This miracle, like all the reft, which Jefus wrought, was defigned to promote the most benevolent and ufeful purposes. That large increase of wine was a recompence to the master of the house for his kindnefs and hofpitality, and might be confidered as a token, that they, who receive Jesus and his difciples, fhall not lose their reward. It was evidently calculated to difplay his high character in a more illuftrious manner, than had been done before; for he then "manifefted forth his glory, and his difciples believed on him;" their faith was confirmed, and they were the more encouraged to forfake all and to follow him, when they faw with what ease he could "fupply all their need."

We do not forget, that he furnishes a better entertainment, and invites us to feaft with him at his table, while he bestows fpiritual bleffings with a liberal hand. He fays, " Come, cat of my bread, and drink of the wine, which I have mingled *." The knowledge of his love will afford an inconceivably greater delight to the foul, than the most exquifitely

* Prov. ix. 5.

rich