them from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, (4) exercises us. Their coming first to Jerusalem, (instead of being led direct to Bethlehem, where the young Child was,) (5) proved the means of awaking the slumbering faith of some, of rewarding the watchfulness of others who looked for Redemption in Israel, of arousing the attention of all. (6) The King on his throne was put to his trial, and taught what had come to pass: (7) "all the chief Priests and Scribes of the people" were sent to their holy books and constrained to bear witness of the Truth, to Herod, to the Magi, -to ourselves. (8) What a confirmation of the faith of the Magi was this,-attested too by the travelling beacon which forthwith reappeared to light them on their way! The gifts to the Holy Babe (9) proclaim the wisdom of those who brought them, (10) embody a little Gospel in themselves, (11) instruct as many as behold or hear of the thing which the Magi have done, (12) magnificently enrich the Holy Family at the very moment when a long and perilous journey into Egypt is before them.-Behold, a message is brought them to begone in an Easterly direction: another message is brought to Joseph to depart with the Holy Child and His Mother towards the West-and before dawn, no trace

remains of last night's wonder! By the time Herod discovers that he has been mocked, the royal Strangers are far on the other side of Jerusalem an old Man of poor estate apparently, and a young Woman clasping a babe to her bosom are to be seen somewhere on the way to Egypt. And that is all!.... Ah but, (says one,)-How about the butchery which followed? O those Infants are now leading the van in the noble army of Martyrs, you know : and their Mothers,-O they would not exchange their lot now with any woman in the world!

This, I say, is a sample, only a common sample of how GOD acts. Every event of thy life and of mine is just as perfectly over-ruled,(depend upon it,)—as were those events which we have been considering. . . . Let it terrify the wicked to think it,-let it comfort the afflicted to know it! Let all walk humbly as knowing that His Name is "Wonderful" with whom they have to do. He will entrap the wicked in the work of his own hands,-as He did Herod. He will make the pathway of the just brighter and brighter until they come to the perfect day, as in the case of the Wise Men.

The Second Sunday after the Epiphany.

WHATSOEVER HE SAITH UNTO YOU, DO IT.

S. JOHN ii. 5.

His Mother saith unto the Servants, Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it.

ONE short, suggestive saying, out of all that belongs to the Miracle recorded in this day's Gospel, has been selected for remark. "There was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the Mother of JESUS was there.... When they wanted wine, the Mother of JESUS saith unto Him, They have no wine." It is clear that the distressing discovery had been instantly communicated to the Blessed Virgin by the Servants. She must have been at home, as it were. The marriage will have been between some of her own very near kindred. She turns instinctively to her Divine Son: from whose reply, it is reasonable to infer that her words, They have no wine," implied a wish,-(if they

did not quite amount to a request,)—that He would remedy the mishap by supplying what was lacking. JESUS saith unto her, "Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not

yet come.' (A difficult saying that,-however confidently men may affect affect to explain it.)

"His Mother saith unto the Servants, Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it."

Now, with reference to its immediate bearing on the dialogue of which it forms part, it is obvious to point out concerning this saying of "the Mother of JESUS," that it shews she did not consider the reply of her Divine Son to signify that He would not remedy the want of wine. On the contrary, it is more reasonable to gather from it that she expected He would relieve the anxiety which she doubtless shared in no small degree. But it also seems clear that she recognized His method of working to be higher and better,-different, at all events, from her own. She seems to have anticipated relief but when it would be administered,by what means it would come about,-in what shape it would appear,-that she evidently did not foresee. Accordingly,-" His Mother saith unto the Servants, Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it."

:

You are invited to attend to the subsequent course of the narrative; for so, its teaching will become the more apparent. The Jewish people were accustomed to wash before meals. Accordingly, for the convenience of the guests assembled on this occasion, "six water-pots of water" had been provided. They had been partially emptied perhaps for the ablutions of the party. At all events, the water-pots were not full. "JESUS saith unto the Servants, Fill the water-pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim."

Strange method of Divine Providence even in a trifling matter! "They have no wine." Then, "Fill the water-pots with water."

The Servants did not hesitate, because the Virgin Mother had given them a timely injunction of obedience: but did not the men look, first at the Divine Speaker,-then at the Virgin,

lastly on one another, perplexed and astonished? Doubtless they did. It was all the work of a few moments. On discovering the shortness of the supply of wine, the Servants, after conversing an instant with one another, resolved to whisper the distressing secret to the Blessed Virgin she turned to our LORD, (who was perhaps sitting next to her,) and in an un