meadow escape our riot. Let none of us go without his part in luxury. Let us every where leave tokens of joy." (Wis. ii. 8.) But afterwards it plunges the poor soul into vexation, and trouble, and distress. Its happiness goeth in pleasantly: but in the end it will bite like a snake, and will spread abroad poison like a basilisk." (Prov. xxiii. 31.) "Their grapes are grapes of gall, and their clusters most bitter." (Deut. xxxii. 32.)
III. The conduct of God is perfectly opposite to this. He keeps his good wine for the last. He first afflicts and tries his friends, and then comforts and crowns them. " Thou hast shown Thy people hard things, Thou hast made us drink the wine of sorrow." (Ps. lix. 5.) But afterwards, " they shall be inebriated with the plenty of Thy house, and Thou shalt make them drink of the torrent of pleasure." (Ps. xxxv. 9.) Christ did not change the water into wine, until that of His entertainer" had failed, for spiritual comfort is not found until sensual pleasures are abandoned and contemned. Thus the manna did not fall from Heaven, until the food which the Israelites had brought from Egypt had failed, and afterwards again, " Manna ceased after they ate of the corn of the land." (Josue, v. 12.)
THURSDAY.
Christ Drives out the Buyers and Sellers. — I.
I. Jesus entering the temple " found in it those that sold oxen, and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting." (John ii. 14.) These were sold and bought for the sacrifices, yet our Divine Master was displeased, that traffic should be carried on in the house of God. Learn from this to respect the sacredness of
