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our Supplies, our Ufes and Defects are reciprocal, though all ground of Diftinction be not, yet any mifchief that can come from a too rigorous infifting upon it is, taken away. And one would think, no Man need be advised, to live friendly, and comfortably, and refpectfully, with thofe, without whom he cannot live at all.

I Cor. xii. 26.

Heb. xiii. 3.

4. The Fourth thing here enjoined is a Tender Concern for the profperous and adverse Fortunes of our Fellow-Chriftians. Rejoyce with them that rejoyce, and weep with them that weep, Ver. 15. And this we likewife find urged from the fame Topick all along infifted on; Whether one Member fuffer, all the Members fuffer with it; or one Member be bonoured, all the Members rejoyce with it. And again, Remember them that are in bonds as bound with them, and them which fuffer Adverfity, as being your felves alfo in the Body. Recollect a little, how impoffible it is, for any part of us to endure Pain, or Sicknefs, or Hunger, or Cold alone. How quick the Communication, how sharp the Anguifh, how general the Disorder, how great the Anxiety, how diligent the Care to affwage or to relieve any Indifpofition, or Smart, of the least and most diftant Member. And again, Upon any Return of Health and Eafe, how fudden, how fentible, how mighty is the Joy? Upon any acceffion of Beauty, or Ornament, how gay the Spirits, how chearful the Countenance, how pleafing the innocent Pride of it? And let these inftruct us, what Right, what Obligations we have, to take part in the good or ill Events of our Brethren, to think no Man's Joys or Griefs entirely his own: To fufpect our felves, whether we be really alive in that Body; when fuch a narrow Selfishness hath hardned us, as fhuts out all tender Impreffions; When cold, benummed, and quite forfaken of that reciprocal Senfe,

which the different Fortunes of our Fellow-members ought to create. Let thefe convince us too, that fuch Concern must not content it felf with private and inward Refentments only, but be exprefs'd by active and vigorous, ready and continual Affiftances. That, as one part of the Body fubmits, to be wounded, or bliftered, or fcarified, or to Naufeatings, or Gripings; to discharge the Humours fettled in Another, and fet the Whole at eafe; So fhould we, be far from grudging any fupportable degree of expence or trouble, for the Benefit of the Diftreffed and Injured; and esteem every Member's Sufferings a Calamity to the Body in common. Confequently, That we do not weep with the Afflicted as we ought, except we dry up their Tears, by labouring to redrefs thofe Afflictions, from whence they flow. We do not rejoice with the Profperous as we ought, without ceafing to envy, and defiring to add to, their Happiness. Our Diligence, in both kinds, must go to the very utmoft of our Powers. They, who have Opportuni

T'er. 13. Τα φιλοξενίαν διώκοντες.

ties, muft diftribute to the Neceffities of Saints, and be given to Hofpitality. Nay, they must even court and hunt after fuch Opportunities, seek them with an eager Zeal, and think themfelves to have obtained a Prize worth all their pains, when they have the good fortune to find them. They who cannot do thus, must at least wish they could, and never want the Difpofition, when they have not the Ability. And, fince our Prayers are confined within no bounds, Thefe muft ftretch themfelves all the World over. For, in regard Chrift hath difperfed his Church over the face of the whole Earth, the diftance of Place makes no difference in the degree of Relation. They are ftill Members, and the fame Body with our felves; And We muft love, and be touch'd with a fenfible Regard, muft intercede with, and give Thanks to our common Head, for them.

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5. Fifthly,

5. Fifthly, In regard this Union is Divine and Spiritual, inftituted to promote the Glory of God, and the Benefit of Souls; it fhould be our earnest and conftant Study, to promote, and come up, as near as may be, to a perfect Unity in Religion. Now the only way, 'tis plain, for uniting Souls, is by an Agreement and Confent of their feveral Faculties. Thus Men are united in their Understandings, when they believe and acknowledge the fame Holy Truths, and abide by the fame Principles. In their Wills and Affections; when they purfue the fame Ends, exprefs the fame Defires, and bear the fame Love to that which is good, and to one another. This, added to the former, makes up what the Apostle calls, Keeping the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace. From thefe Two

Ephef. iv. 3.

fhould follow an uniform Behaviour and Confent of Action, termed by the fame Apostle, Phil. iii. 16. Walking by the fame rule, and minding the

fame thing. When we jointly advance, the fame common Interefts. When, as becomes a Body animated by one Spirit, we all attend, without Diftraction, to the Furtherance of Piety and Peace, to the Salvation of Souls, to the adorning our Profeffion, by undiffembled Goodness, and a wife well-govern'd Zeal: When we, with one Mouth, as well as one Mind, glorify God, and, like Strings tuned to the fame Sound, make that Worship harmonious and uniform, which is eftablifhed to exprefs this Union, and is fo admirably contrived for Edification and Decency. Well were it, if these Engagements were duly laid to heart, by those busy Factors for the Devil, who employ their Wits and Pens, in poyfoning the easy and unstable, with profane, lewd, or heretical Principles; Well, if they would remember them too, who for Intereft, or Prejudice, or Peevifhness, break the Order, and depart from the Communion of

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a fettled Church; to whofe Doctrine they offer none, and to whose Discipline they are able to bring fo very few, fo very poor, Exceptions. But, whether thefe Men will hear, or whether they will forbear, still it is Our part, by all manner of regular means, to testify our Reverence for Chrift, our Obedience to our lawful Paftors, our chearful and unanimous Conformity to their wholfome Laws, and our Love to the Brethren and Fellow-members. Labouring continually and earnestly, to obtain that most valuable Bleffing, which we are taught to pray for in our excellent daily Prayers, The good eftate, I mean, of the Catholick Church; That it may be fo guided and governed by our Lord's good Spirit, that all, who profefs and call themfelves Chriftians, may be led into the way of Truth, and bold the Faith in Unity of Spirit, in the Bond of Peace, and in Righteoufness of Life.

There yet remains a Sixth Duty behind, That of Constancy and Meekness under Perfecutions and Wrongs, enjoined at the Twelfth and fourteenth Verfes. But, by reafon of my former Enlargements upon the Reft, and the Affinity of this to fome Others, which will call for our Confideration the next Lord's-day: I chufe to reserve it till that time.

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Marriage, probably of fome of his Mother's Relations, where he was pre

fent.

2. They therefore in

2. And both Jefus was called, and his Difciples, to vited Him, and thofe the Marriage. Difciples who attended him.

3. And

3. And when they wanted wine, the Mother of Jefus 3. Upon their Provifaith unto bim, They have no wine.

short, his Mother defired him 4. Jefus faith unto her, Woman, what have I to do

wit thee? My bour is not yet come.

fion of Wine falling to supply them.

4. Jefus replied, That this was not a matter proper for her Authori

ty to interpofe in; and, that Miracles were not to be wrought for gratifying the Requests of Friends, but had their proper feafons, of which he was the beft Judge.

5. His Mother faith unto the Servants, Whatsoever be faith unto you, do it.

5. His Mother, (who feems not to have taken this for an abfolute De

nial, but as an Intimation rather, that he would referve himself till it was proper) bad those that attended, be fure to obferve any Orders he should give

them.

6. And there were fet there fix Water-pots of Stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three Firkins apiece.

always at hand to ferve for the feveral forts of Washings, the Jews frequently to repeat.

7. Jefus faith unto them, Fill the Water-pots with water, and they filled them up to the brim.

8. And be faith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the Governor of the Feast.

bare it.

And they

9. When the Ruler of the Feaft bad tafted the Water that was made Wine, and knew not whence it was, but the Servants which drew the Water knew; the Governor of the Feaft called the Bridegroom,

10. And faith unto him, Every man in the beginning doth fet forth good Wine, and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse; but thou haft kept the good Wine until now.

6. Now there ftood fix large Veffels, the use whereof was to hold Water, that might be which the Law obliged

10. It is ufual, when Mens Palates are fresh, and best able to diftinguish, to give them the beft they have; but

thou haft, contrary to common cuftom at Entertainments, referved the moft generous Wine to the laft. Hereupon (as the ninth Verse intimates ) the Servants were examined about the matter, and gave an account how they came by it.

11. This beginning of Miracles did Jefus in Cana of Galilee, and manifefied forth bis glory, and his Difciples believed on him.

11. This was the first Inftance Jefus gave of his Divine Power, which had its intended Effect,

by confirming the Faith of thofe Difciples, whom the firft Chapter relates to have lately come to him.

COMMENT.

HE Miracle here related, being the first that offers, as well in the Hiftory of our Bleffed Sa

TH

viour's

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