committed in the World, merely becaufe it affords that Meat and Drink, which Men of inordinate Appetites abuse to Excefs. The Truth is, as it is an high Commendation of Providence, that it crowns us with Plenty (whatever use we make of it) and bestows upon us all Things richly to enjoy; fo was it not unbecoming a Perfon, invefted with a divine Commiffion, to give, on this Occafion, an eminent Inftance of his flowing Liberality, and, by his generous Provision for the Family, to leave a grateful Memorial of his benevolent Regard to two Perfons, that were his Relations, and had juft enter'd into the honourable State of Matrimony.

But there is a farther Confideration, that might poffibly induce our Lord, when he was turning the Water into Wine, to make more than what was immediately wanted, and that is, the clearer Proof and Demonftration of the Miracle. • The Wits of Cana might fancy that the Wedding-Guefts were all intoxicated, that they had loft their Tafte, and cou'd not diftinguish between Wine and Punch: But when these Scepticks heard, that fome of this wonderful Wine was left, and might perhaps taste of it themselves, and be forced to acknow.

Stevenfon's Conference upon the Miracles, p. 65,

Why he

did not

immediate

this Mi

racle.

knowledge that it was really good Wine, as the Guests reported it to be; this muft have put an End to all their Cavils, and given them full conviction of Chrift's Divine Power, as indeed the Evangelift tells us, that the Effect of this Miracle was the Manifeftation of his Glory.

It is to be observed, however, that in working this Miracle our Saviour ly work (contrary to his ufual Practice) ftood upon the Reserve, and did not immediately gratify his Mother's Defire. In the following part of his Ministry, we find him frequently complying with the Peoples firft Requefts; but his Circumftances then and now were different. 1 When his Fame had been spread abroad through all the Regions round about, and every Tongue fet forth his noble Acts, it better became him, as Occafions offer'd, readily to exert his Power: but, at prefent, he was not known to the World; his Difciples were but few and fresh comers, and even his most intimate Acquaintance had not any due Apprehenfions concerning him. Now he, who made the Glory of God, and the Good of Souls his principal Aim, was oblig❜d to fet out warily, and to ftop, as much as might be, the Mouth

of

Fohn ii. 11. Stanhope's Epift. & Gofp, vol. 24

p. 96.

of Prejudice and Cavil: And nothing could go farther towards fixing him a general Reputation, than Modefty. To put himself forward of his own Accord, or to yield to a Mother's firft Motions, might look like an Eagerness 'to catch at Admiration and Applaufe, to fall in with an intemperate Zeal for advancing his own Honour, and a fhewing what he could do, rather than discerning what was fit for him to do. And therefore when his Mother came, and acquainted him, that her Friends were in danger of wanting Wine for the Company, he return'd her an Answer, in Terms fo feemingly rough, that Interpreters have been at fome trouble about their Meaning; Woman, what have I to do with thee? my Hour is not yet come.

r

his Mo

We mistake the Matter much how- His Anever, if we think, that the Word yun, wer to which we render Woman, was any Title ther exof Disrespect or Indifference; (as it feems plain'd. to be in our Tranflation) for it is frequently us'd by the beft Authors, when the highest Marks of Efteem are intended. The polite Xenophon himself puts it in the Mouth of one of the Perfian Chiefs, when he was addreffing himself to a Captive Lady, and comforting her under her unfortunate Circumftances:

Dr. Pearce's Vind. Part 3. p. 32.

And

And certainly a Time there was, that our Lord call'd his Mother by this Apellation, when he was far from being furly or undutiful to her, when he was hanging on the Crofs, and recommending both his Mother to the Care of his beloved Apoftle, and that Apostle to the Affection of his Mother, Woman, behold thy Son. And, in like manner, what have I to do with thee? Is a Phrase * fometimes us'd in Scripture, where nothing of Anger or Paffion is conceiv'd, but only fome diflike exprefs'd, and a gentle Rebuke given; which feems to be the Cafe now before us.

f

The bleffed Virgin comes and complains to her Son, that there was likely to be a deficiency of Wine. Her Com. plaint implies a Requeft of help from him in this Exigence; nor is it improbable, that hereupon the might defire to see him work a Miracle, and that a little Vanity might prompt her to this defire. " But, in Cafes where an heavenly Father's Honour is to be the governing Principle, an earthly Mother's Authority is quite fuperceded. Though therefore, he, who made all Times, could not be under Subjection to any, or reftrain'd in his Power at

u

one

f John xix. 26. Vid. 2 Sam. xvi. 10. Stanhope's Epift. and Gospel, Vol. 2. p. 70.

one Hour, more than another; yet, to give a Gracefulness and Efficacy to all his Works, there was an Order to be obferv'd, nor were Miracles to be wrought at all Adventures, for gratifying the Curiosity of ftanders-by, or the Importunity of Friends or Relations, but had their proper Seafons, whereof his Divine Wifdom was the beft Judge, and not to be directed by any other.

This feems to be a probable Sense of the Words: And where then, I pray, is all that Paffion and Peevishness, that Ill-nature and Wafpifhness, fo often, fo loudly complain'd of (as if they were enough to deftroy the Credit of the whole Miracle) in our Saviour's telling his Mother (for his Anfwer imports_no more) that, in the Business of manifefting his Glory by Miracles, (wherein he approv'd himself to be the Son of God, wherein he had no relation to her, nor fhe any right to interfere) he was to leave him to do what he thought proper.

has been

And now, to look back upon what The Sum has been faid: Since the manner of ce- of what lebrating matrimonial Festivals among aid. the Jews was put under fuch Regulation, that the moft grave and ferious Perfons might frequent them, without any Imputation on their Characters; fince

to