deep water, and let down your nets for a draught; that they might see by the wonderful success, the more than human power too of him that had been preaching so divinely to them.

And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. Indeed, it was because they had been labouring so long to no purpose, that Jesus then bid him to let down his nets: for if at his command the nets should immediately be filled, and that in the heat of the day, when multitudes of people were moving upon the shore, which after all their skill and toil for a whole night were drawn out empty; it would be a demonstration that his power was truly divine, to whose mere will the fishes of the sea thus paid obedience. And so it was, that as soon as the net was let down, it enclosed so great a number of fishes, that it brake; and when the partners of Simon that were in the other ship came to help him, they filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. This, as well it might, was greatly astonishing to all, but especially to Peter, who was so struck with it, and saw so much of the hand of omnipotence in it, that he fell down at Jesus' knees, in the posture of adoration as to God himself, and, as if overcome with the majesty of his glorious presence, said unto him, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord! But Jesus graciously encouraged him, and said, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men: by which he adopted him into a partnership with himself in the great work of preaching the gospel, and intimated to him that hereafter he should be engaged in a more noble sort of fishery, and be as wonder

fully successful in catching the souls of men, and drawing them powerfully and in great numbers into the enclosures of his holy church, as he had then been in filling his nets with fish.

And what he said to Peter, he said to the rest of the apostles, and to their successors the bishops, and other ministers of the kingdom; and accordingly, not only Peter, but his partners too, Andrew, James, and John, immediately left all, and followed Jesus, or gave themselves up entirely to his service.

Now one great end of our Lord's working this miracle being to shew Peter, and those that were with him, the mighty success of that office and function he designed hereafter to employ them in, how unlikely soever it might appear at present, they being poor and very illiterate, and seemingly not at all qualified for so great a work; we shall in considering it observe some things relating to the office of the ministry, and likewise what correspondent duties and obligations lie upon the people, that their faith, and our labours, may not be in vain.

And first, our Lord's telling them that he would make them fishers of men, intimates the nature of the ministerial office; that it is an employment full of care and labour, and of very uncertain success, and that all the patience, and watchfulness, and artful management and contrivance which they used in following their trade of fishing, would be necessary in their winning over souls to Christ; and very often, after all their toil, they should meet with great disappointments.

And accordingly, whenever the work of the ministry is spoken of by our Lord or his apostles, it

b Matt. iv. 19, 22.

is represented either by the laborious skill of husbandry or building; or the careful vigilance and courage of a good shepherd, in those countries which abounded with beasts of prey; or by sweating in the harvest, or working in a vineyard, digging, pruning, and dressing it, picking out the weeds and stones, and ridding it of every thing that would hinder its bringing forth plenty of good fruit.

So extremely mistaken are they who look upon the clergy as an idle, dronish sort of men, and therefore grudge them that maintenance which they do so little for those who best knew their office, we see, were of another opinion; and to which, methinks, every one that pretends to be a Christian should readily subscribe.

And that which makes their labours much heavier and more uncomfortable than otherwise they would be, is the small success they meet with. How many days and nights too do they toil to do their brethren service, to build them up in our most holy faith, to redeem them from their vain conversation, and persuade them to be happy! and yet too often take nothing, but bestow their best endeavours to no purpose.

Now, let a man of any other employment make it his own case, and think how he could bear such constant disappointments! The more there is of industry and care and diligence, the greater is the discouragement when it proves in vain. And therefore if the duty of the ministers of Christ be in itself so difficult, and designed purely to promote the true happiness of mankind; and yet, through men's obstinacy, is for the most part so unsuccessful, that it sinks their spirits at the same time when their busi

ness becomes doubly laborious; it is highly ungrateful, as well as false and unreasonable, for people to upbraid the profession with idleness and sloth.

It should rather give them such a feeling sense of the weight, as well as usefulness, of the ministerial function, as to render it as light and easy as is possible, by making the best use of the pains we take amongst them for their eternal good. I am sure it is for their best interest to do so; for though it causes us great trouble to see our people so careless of the one thing needful, yet in the conclusion theirs will be the misery: a misery beyond conception great, and yet so justly due, so throughly deserved, that it scarce leaves room for pity.

And were not the consequence so dreadful on their side, the concern would be much less on ours; but to see those whom Jesus hath committed to our care, to win them over to his most gracious service, and fit them for his joy, stop their ears hard against all our persuasives, disregard our admonitions, despise our reproofs, laugh at our instructions, and with all the eagerness imaginable, and fatal obstinacy, press on to endless ruin: this is a melancholy sight indeed, and wounds us deep.

For it is a sad truth, and deserves to be seriously considered, that the more we labour to save men's souls, the greater shall be their damnation, if, after all, they wilfully throw them away; and our care and diligence will but aggravate their sins who are never the better for it, and make them without excuse at the day of judgment. And therefore how careful should both ministers and people be; the one, that none committed to their charge be lost for want of a due performance of their duty to them;

and the other, that they perish not under the means and opportunities of salvation! The ministers, that they fail not in their pious labours; and the people, that they may not be without success! How would this animate us to labour still more abundantly, when we should see the travail of our souls, and the work of our Lord thus prosper in our hands! And what unspeakable satisfaction would it be to us to find that we were like to be a savour of life unto life, and not of death unto death!

Nor would our people's comfort and joy be less, to perceive their growth in grace, and in the knowledge and love of their blessed Saviour Jesus; that they are obedient to the heavenly calling, and led by the Spirit of God, and not forgetful hearers, but doers of the worde. And how great would be the mutual tenderness and affection between such prudent, faithful ministers, and such a tractable, obedient people! This is the true spirit of Christianity, in the teachers and the taught, and would tend to the inexpressible happiness of both. But where it is wanting on either side, it will be very uncomfortable at present; and to those who are in the fault, of dismal consequence at last.

But whether we succeed or no, we must still continue our labours; as we find St. Peter and his partners did, who, after they had toiled all night and taken nothing, were washing and mending their nets, that they might be ready for another opportunity. For though labour in vain is a very great discouragement, yet in our case it is so far from being an excuse for negligence and slackness in our e James i. 22, 25.

d

c 2 Cor. ii. 16. 2 Pet. iii. 18. f Luke v. 2. Matt. iv. 21.