George Hutcheson
9 When the Ruler of the feast, had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was, (but the servants which drew the water knew) the governour of the feast called the bridegroom,
10 And saith unto him, every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine, And when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
Fourthly, John recordeth the Ruler of the feasts part, whereby the miracle was manifested, he wondering at the goodnesse of the wine, and not knowing whence it was, calleth for the bridegroom, and ascribeth this provision to his prudence, (rather as may be conceived, then to his parsimony) which was not ordinary at such occasions; with which we are to conceive, that the servants who knew the matter (as is said here) did make the miracle manifest, as appeareth from v. 11. What the Ruler saith, of giving of wine to men who have well drunk, is to be understood, not of excesse, but of drinking to satisfaction. However, it is but a simple narration without an approbation on Christ, or his pen-mans part. Nor did Christ, by affording so much good wine to them, who had already drunk so much, give any evidence of his allowance of intemperance, for he had another end in it, v. 11. And besides, all the creatures which men daily consume by excesse, are his gift by common Providence, to which mens excesse and abuse cannot be imputed. But it is a mans dutie, to look on Christs liberality as a trial to his sobriety. Doct. 1. Christs works, when they are rightly considered, will be found worthy of commendation, and albeit the worker were not known, yet they will commend themselves; for, the Ruler commendeth the wine, when he knew not whence it was. 2. In a miraculous transubstantiation, or change of one substance into another sense will be judge and bear witnesse to it; for, the Ruler having tasted the water that was made wine, findeth by his taste that it is wine 3. Ignorance of Christs hand in a work, makes men to ascribe it to others, and so take Christs glory from him; for, the Ruler called the Bridegroom, and ascribed it to him. 4. In the comparison which the Governour of the feast maketh betwixt other mens way, and the Bridegrooms, which was indeed Christs work, we have a fit resemblance betwixt the fashion of the world and Satan, and Christs way; They set out their best commodities first, but worse come after, but Christ in his dealing, may begin more harshly, but he is still the longer the better.
