The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-07-13
THE BEST TO COME
DR.. TALMAGE DRAWS A LESSON FROM
THE MARRIAGE FEAST
The Joyous Features of the Christian
Religion Clearly Presented The
World INVITED TO a Feast of Holy
Merriment.

furnished by the requests that nave
reached DR.. Talmage in northern Eu-
rope for a sermon in out of the way
places where he did not expect to find
a single person who could understand
him. There, as here, he presents re-
Heion as a festivity and invites all the
world to come as guests n join in
its holy merriment; text, John ii, 10,
Thou hast kept the good wine until
now"
This chapter invites us to a marriage
celebration 1t is a wedding in COM
mon life, two plain people having
pledged each other, hand and heart,
and their friends having come in for
congratuIation. The joy is not the less
because there is no pretension. In
each other they find all the future they
want. The daisy iii the cup on the
table may near a. much as a score
of artistic garlands fresh from the hot
house. When a daughter goes off from
home with nothing but a plain father'
blessing and a plain mothers love, she
is missed as much as though she were
a princess. 1t seems hard, after the
parents have sheltered her for IS years
that in a few short months her affec-
tons should nave been carried off by
another, but mother remembers how
it was in her own case when she was
young, and so she braces UP until the
wedding has passed and the banquet
ers are gone, and she has a cry all
alone.
Well, we are today at the wedding
in cana of GaIilee. Jesus and his
9th have been invited. II is evil
dent that there are more people there
than were expected. Either some peo-
pie have come who were not invited
or more invitations nave been sent out
thar it was supposed would be accept
ed. Of course there is not a sufhclent
supply of win You know that there
is nothing more embarrassing TO a
housekeeper than a scant supply.
Jesus sees the embarrassment, and ne
comes up Immediately TO relieve II.
He sees standing six water pots. he
orders the servants 10 MI them win
water, then he waves his hand over
the water, and Immediately it is wine
real wine. Taste of it and see Tor
yourselves. No lOgwood in 1t, no
strychnine in it, but first rate wine.
I will not now be diverted to the ques-
ton so often discussed in my own
country whether it is right TO drink
wine. / am describing the scene as II
was. When God makes wine, he makes
the very best wine, n 100 gallons OF
it standing around in these water pots
wine so good that the ruler OF the
feast tastes it and why tnls
is really better than anything we nave
had. Thou hast kept the good wine
until now" Beautiful miracle! A
prize was offered to the person VINO
should write the best essay about the
miracle in Cana. Long manuscripts
-no.o,+oI IN tlna anmnatiri0n- lDnt
a poet won the prize by just this one
line descriptive of the miracle: The
conscious water saw its God and blush
ed"
SYMPATHY FOR HOUS -
We learn from this miracle, in the
first place., that Christ has
with housekeepers. You might nave
thought that Jesus would nave SAID:
II cannot be bothered with this mousse
hold deficiency of wine. Il is not for
me. Lord of heaven and of earth, 10
become caterer to this feast L nave
vaster things than this to attend 10.
Not so said Jesus. The wine gave out,
and Jesus by miraculous power came 10
the rescue. Does there ever come q
scant supply in your household? Have
you to make a very close calculation
Is it hard work for you 10 carry on
things decently and respectaDle! IL
so, don't sit down and cry. Don't so
Jul anu NlTGl, NDul 81 : A4hA "hO 49,
in the house in Cana of Galilee. Pray
in the parlor. Pray in the Kitchen
Let there be no room in all your mouse
unconsecrated by the voice OF prayer
If you have a microscope, put undeI
it one drop of water and see the IN
sects floating about, and when you
see that God makes them and cares foI
them and feeds them come to the con
clusion that he will take care or you
and feed you.
A bow asked if he might sweep che
snow from the steps of a house. Inc
seem very poor" He ays I am very
DOOR, She say Don't you some
times get discouraged and 1eel ina
God is going to let you StarVe! Inc
lad looked up in the race ahC
said. DO YOU think God will let mt
starye when / trust him and then dc
the best I can?' Enough theology 10
older peoplei Trust in God and dc
the hest YOU can. Amid all the worr1'
ments of housekeeping go to hlm' III
will help you control your temper ane
supervise your domestics and enter
tain your guests and manage you
home economies. There are hundred:
of women weak and nervous and ex'
hausted with the care of housekeeping
I commend you to the Lord Jeus chris
as the best adviser and the most EN-
~ Gent aid-th Lord Jesus who perform
Cd bis first miracle to relieve a house
eu IL h1SN
keeper.
SUPPLIES AN ABUNDANCE.
I learn also from this miracle ina
Christ does things in
think a small supply of wine woult
have made up for the dencleny.
think. certainly, they must nave ma
enough for half the guests; one gaii
lon OF wine will do, certainly nve gai
lns will be enough; certainly ten. bu
Jesus goes on, and he gives them s.
gallns and 40 gallons and o0 saiio u
and 20 gallons and 100 gallons and lS
gallons of the very best wine. IL u
just like him-doing everything on I'M
largest and most generous scale. Doe
Christ. our creator go forth to max
leaves? He makes them by the Wnoi
forest full; notched like the fern or siI
vered X the aspen or broad like tn
palm: thickets in the tropics, Oregon
forests. Does he go forth to max
flowers? He makes plenty OF them
thev flame from he hedge, they mans
from the top of the grapevine in bios
SONS, they roll in the blue wave OF tn'