After this stupendous feat, Jesus constrained his disciples to get into the ship and go across the water, whilst he remained behind to get rid of his well fed friends. And when night came, the ship was tossed by the storm. And in the fourth watch Jesus went unto them walking on the sea. When his disciples saw him they said he was a spirit, and cried out for fear. But Jesus said, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. Then the enthusiastic Peter said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. Jesus said, Come; to which Peter responded by stepping out of the ship; but he could not float, and began to sink rapidly, and would have perished if his master had not put out his hand and saved him. If this system of aquatic locomotion could be instituted now, it would supersede all lifeboats. But we have little _faith_ in these days of scientific facts, and it requires an immense amount of that commodity to be able to attempt even what was said to have been accomplished by the founders of our national religion.
Jesus did not confine his creative abilities to the solid comforts of life, but exercised them upon the liquid luxuries of existence. Being invited to a wedding, and there being no wine, his mother, with a woman's natural solicitude on such an occasion, said to him, "They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come." Now, what such a churlish answer had to do with the simple remark made by his mother, we leave to gentle Christians to say. However, after a time he became more amiable; and, no doubt, reflecting upon the disappointment of those who had come to a marriage feast, and found nothing but water to drink, he took compassion on them, and turned the water into wine, to the extent of "six water pots, containing two or three firkins apiece." "This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him." Well they might; and we fear that any man in these days who should do such things, would have many followers, in spite of all the preaching of all the teetotallers, who, strange to say, for the most part profess to be good Christians, notwithstanding that Christ, when he had the opportunity of rebuking wine bibbing, did not do so, but encouraged it by supplying the very beverage which teetotallers so vehemently condemn.