Different historians will vary in their relations, according to their different feelings: fome will be struck more forcibly with one circumftance, and fome with another; nor did any two writers ever relate matters of fact, exactly in the fame words: if there is no contradiction nor effential difference in their accounts, it forms a much stronger proof of their veracity, than if they agreed in every trifling point. Our ideas are as variable as our features: had the evangelists, therefore, all written exactly in the same terms, it would have given reason to fuppofe that the three laft were mere copyists, and consequently we should have been deprived of a great part of the fatisfaction we now enjoy in the concurrent testimony of the four holy gospels.

Our own experience will confirm the teftimony of our Lord contained in the last verse. How often does a ftranger with great talents ftrike our imagination and draw from us the applause which he merits, when the fame perfon, if living amongst us in a poor and low ftation, would

would probably be neglected and despised! So it was with our bleffed Saviour: he was followed and adored for his miracles every where, except in his own country, where they did not choose to acknowledge him, because he was, as they thought, the son of a carpenter, with whose family and fituation they were well acquainted.

The fame fpecies of pride frequently prevents our improvement, by leading us to despise those who might be able to teach us. This fhews a littleness of mind which we should carefully guard against; never lofing the means of improvement, though we must be obliged for it to those whom the world may regard, in every other respect, as our inferiors.

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45. Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galileans received him, having feen all the things that he did "at Jerusalem at the feast; for they also went unto the feast.

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46. So Jefus came again unto Cana "of Galilee, where he made the water

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wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was fick at Capernaum.

“47. When he heard that Jefus was

come out of Judea into Galilee, he went unto him, and befought him that he "would come down and heal his son: for "he was at the point of death."

The aftonishing miracle of the water being changed into wine, muft of course have spread the fame of its author, and excited a hope in the multitude that they fhould fee others likewife performed. Men are at all times extremely fond of the marvellous, even when they have no other intereft in it but the indulgence of their curiofity: how much more then, when they expect to derive benefits from it!

After fuch a proof of our Lord's fupernatural power, we cannot wonder that any one in diftrefs fhould apply to him for relief. The fuffering parent, though he placed a confidence in the efficacy of our Lord's interference, yet feems to have thought it neceffary for the preferBb

vation

vation of the child, that he should attend him in person. Our bleffed Saviour does not immediately answer his petition with his ufual kindness: from which we may fuppofe his faith not yet fufficiently confirmed; that worldly concerns were too ftrongly impreffed on his mind, or that he prided himself too much on his rank, and that the miracle itself would have loft half its value had his request been granted immediately.

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48. Then faid Jesus unto him, except fee figns and wonders, ye will not "believe.

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ye

49. The nobleman faith unto him, Sir, come down, ere my child die.”

Not fo intreated the humble Centurion, (as may be seen in St. Luke, chap. vii. ver. 1. to 10.); his faith was fo firm, that he was perfuaded a fingle word was sufficient from the Saviour of the world; he compares our Lord's power over nature to that which he himself exercised over

his foldiers, who, in the true fpirit of military difcipline, instantly executed whatever he commanded them. How differently were these two fuppliants treated: the poor Centurion, too diffident to hope for so great an honor, was attended by our blessed Saviour in person; whereas the nobleman was reproved for the weaknefs of his faith, with encouragement enough, however, to prevent despair.

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50. Jefus faith unto him, Go thy way; thy fon liveth, And the man "believed the word that Jefus had spoken "unto him, and he went his way."

Upon this comfortable afsurance, the faith of the diftreft father gains fome ftrength; and he goes away in the belief that the promise would be realized.

The favors of God are given with a bountiful hand; and when we ask for temporal bleffings, if we do it in humility and an entire refignation to his will, and the requests are in themselves proper, our Bb 2 prayers