miracle was a senseless element, and so there could not be any assistance given by a working fancy and strong imagination towards this wondrous change, nor could any charm or incantation have power here; nothing could be sufficient in this case, but that same omnipotence which turns the waters of a shower into the juice of the grape, and did that in an instant at the marriage in Cana of Galilee, which it effects more leisurely and in a natural way in every vineyard. Only with this addition, that the wine was then ready fitted for the table and the palate, and in absolute perfection in its kind, as being produced immediately by God.

Now this should teach us entirely to put our trust in the divine Providence in all our straits and exigencies, whether public or private; though his disposal of us, and the method he takes with us, appears to our apprehension never so unpromising. For it is God's usual way to relieve and succour the most pressing wants and miseries of his servants, and to bring to pass public or private deliverances, and other his great and good designs, by such unlikely means, and in such an unexpected manner, as may convince every one that it is his doing; that they may not ascribe it to the power of second causes, or their own endeavours, but purely to the hand of God, who only can do wonders h

The scripture story is full of instances of this nature, and so are other histories; and a man of any observation will find it so in his own time, and perhaps in his own family and person.

When therefore, by a life of sincere religion, (for

h Psalm cxxxvi. 4.

nothing else but that will do it) we are once entitled to the peculiar care and providence of God; then, whatever our circumstances may be, how dark and cloudy soever they may look, and perhaps every day more and more so, no probability appearing of their clearing up, but all our prospect threatening the contrary; let us but commit our way unto him, in full assurance of the wisdom and goodness of all his disposals, and of his infinite power to bring to pass whatever he shall see convenient for us, believing him to be the best judge of that convenience, and by no means neglecting the performance of our duty to him; and we shall find ourselves, by some unthought-of turn or other, either relieved or supported, our circumstances will be bettered, or we shall be better reconciled and suited to them. We shall either have prosperity and plenty, or content will supply the want of it; the waters of our affliction shall be turned into the wine of rejoicing, or else God's secret comforts, and a quiet conscience, shall fill our hearts with more and truer gladness than we ever experienced in the days of our greatest sunshine, when our corn and wine and oil increased i.

And let us not be discouraged by delays, for when God's time is come we shall not fail of his assistance; and then for the most part is his time of succour, when the necessity is greatest, and relief can be had nowhere else. And as when Jesus supplied the want of wine, it was admirably good and in great abundance; so, whenever he does appear to bring relief, the riches of his goodness make ample amends for his delaying it, and our patient waiting i Psalm iv. 7.

his leisure. But he that is full of repinings, and distrustful of his Maker's goodness and power, deprives himself of any extraordinary expressions of either; for we read, that even in his own country, among his own relations, Jesus did not many mighty works because of their unbelief.

As for what the governor of the feast observed in commendation of the bridegroom, 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: it is exactly the method God takes with those whom he loves best, and directly contrary to the practice of the Devil with those he would destroy.

At first, how full of blandishment and flattery is that deluding spirit! How does he insinuate into our affections by waiting upon our pleasures, gratifying our sensual appetites, supplying us with great variety of the best relished, that is, forbidden enjoyments; displaying before us infinite allurements, and promising a world of happiness, if we will give ourselves up to his guidance and direction! But then at length, when we have drunk deep of this delicious poison, and begin to feel the sad effects of it in a ruined health and fortune, and the horrors of a guilty conscience, and have dreadful expectations of the wrath to come, which perhaps is near approaching; how different then is his behaviour towards us! how does he insult and triumph over his miserable prey, aggravating our guilt beyond all hopes of pardon, that he may sink us into despair, and thereby secure our ruin!

k Matt. xiii. ult.

But the method of our wise and gracious God is otherwise; he kindly reserves for us the best till last; and though at first he may put on the appearance of austereness and severity, and see it needful to correct our faults and follies by various methods of his heavenly discipline; and then by frequent trials to exercise our best graces, and improve them by that exercise; though he withholds what would be hurtful to us, however earnestly we may desire it of him, and weans us from the world by divers crosses, troubles, and disappointments, lest we should grow too fond of it, and forget our heaven: though he puts all these seeming hardships upon us, it is not that he delights in our smart and uneasiness, or grudges us the pleasures of the world, and the full gratification of our senses; but because he knows we are so much above them that they can never make us happy, and hath prepared for us such as infinitely exceed them, and which, should we indulge our bodily appetites too much, we should never be capable of enjoying; and likewise because wickedness and folly are so bound up in our hearts, that nothing but the rod of correction will fetch them out1,

Thus all that looks unkind and harsh at first in the government of our divine Parent, is only the effect of his great love and goodness, and designed to make us truly wise and happy; and it is so tempered too with inward comforts, cheering hopes, and glorious expectations, to those that comport themselves under it with due patience and resignation, and consider whose discipline it is, and for what end it is used; that even at present the satisfaction they

1 Prov. xxii. 15.

feel is far beyond what the greatest sensual delights can give. And whereas they soon grow flat and insipid, and sink to nothing, even in the very enjoyment, this is daily improving, and rising still higher and higher, till it comes to that fulness of joy which is reserved for them above.

So that as our great enemy by broad smooth ways brings us to destruction, and shuts up the counterfeit scene of happiness with a most tragical conclusion; our wise and merciful Saviour by rough and narrow paths conducts us to the regions of eternal rest and glory m.

And how infinitely more desirable is it to undergo God's smartest discipline in this our state of probation; and then be admitted to a participation, in great degrees and to endless ages, of the unspeakable felicities of heaven; than to have all the enjoyments of this life, and then drop for ever into the flames of hell!

In all respects the condition of a wicked man grows daily worse and worse; his soul is still fouler and fouler, and therefore more and more hateful and abominable to God; his conscience grows more and more clamorous; or else, which is still worse, quite stupid and insensible; the measure of his iniquities fills up apace, and the divine vengeance makes equally large approaches; his very darling vices lose their relish, and every day he is wearier than other of his carnal heaven, and though cloyed and surfeited with it, yet very far from satisfied: and so the wretch speeds on from one degree of misery to a greater, till he comes to the greatest of all, and which shall last for ever.

m Matt. vii. 13, 14.