feel that it is a pleasure to be able to assist them. If this could be universally reduced to practice, how universal would Christian love be, and how much the general stock of happiness increased! THE GOSPEL. "And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee;.. and both Jesus was called, and His disciples, to the marriage."JOHN ii. 1. HE religion of Christ teaches us to please men as THE well as to profit them. This first of miracles had no doubt for its ultimate object the spiritual edification, or constitution of faith, of those who witnessed it. But its immediate object was not, like so many other miracles performed by our Lord, the happiness, but rather the comfort, of those who enjoyed His society. Most of His other miracles relieved some severe bodily ailment, or conferred some solid temporal happiness; this studied the momentary pleasure of the social circle, and forwarded the enjoyment of the social hour. What a lesson to us that the smaller opportunities of increasing our neighbours' comfort are not to be despised! Since it appears that they were an occasion worthy of the performance of a miracle to meet their demands, whatever increases the happiness of our brother, in however small a degree, is not to be undervalued; for the cause is the same, though the occasion which demands it be not equally urgent. There is misery enough in the world; and, when one considers it, who will unhappy man the little spots of pleasure he enjoys, or refuse to contribute to their increase so far as envy he may? To please as well as to profit is the law of benevolence; and he who does so, as far as in him lies, turns the waters of his neighbours into wine. Our God is love; and all his saints His image bear below; The heart, with love to God inspired, O may we love each other, Lord, So shall the vain contentious world E The Third Sunday after the Epiphany. THE COLLECT. ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, mercifully look upon our infirmities, and in all our dangers and necessities stretch forth Thy right hand to help and defend us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A 66 THE EPISTLE. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves," &c.-ROM. xii. 19. N insult has been offered to you, designedly or other wise. It was a sore point, and touched you near. Though you could, you would not resent it directly. And why? Because decency, perhaps, forbade it; or the certainty that, by doing so, you would have lost more in reputation. But is this forgiveness? You will not say so, if it be possible at the same time for you to contemplate with pleasure the prospect of revenge-to dwell upon the subject-to talk of itand, by consequence, to cherish the wound in your breast. The profession of pity to the aggressor and the desire of satisfaction are often united. He only can be with truth accounted merciful and forgiving who bars his mind against the remembrance of evil, and sweetens by intercession the recollection of wrongs. "If you love them which love you, what reward have you? Do not even the publicans the same?" Bear on-bear patiently. God will love you the more than if you did not receive the insult, and knew not how to bear it. THE GOSPEL. "If Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean......I will; be thou clean."-MATT. viii. 2, 3. AY we not thence infer that the humble and be MA lieving applicant engages always the good will of the Great Physician? "I will it." "My will keeps pace with my power." Lord, I feel how little I can depend upon myself. My wayward heart refuses the restraints I would lay upon it. I fear its fickleness-its inconstancy in love to Thee and Thy word-its inconstancy with the Type which Thou hast enjoined. But I would chafe it—I would mould it-I would purify it; and yet, without Thee, what matters it what I would or would not? Yet, if Thou wilt, Thou canst smile upon my efforts-if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean. Without Thee, I am nothing; with Thee, I may do much. If Thou wilt hide Thy face from me, all my resolutions and devices for improvement will come to nought. "It is but lost labour to rise up early, to sit up late, and eat the bread of carefulness." "O cleanse Thou me from my secret faults!" Oh! that the Spirit would cut a channel for holiness in my heart through faith in Thy word! So shall the stream flow forth. I know that Thou wilt not despise me. I will be clean, but cleansed by Thee only; and Thou willest also, and therefore I shall be clean. Come, weary souls, with sin distrest, Oppressed with guilt, a painful load, Lord! we accept, with thankful hearts, |