reaches the point where the parting mountains allow it to join the widely-expanding lake.

In the lake, the surrounding uplands are reflected, as in a vast clear mirror. 'There is not a cloud in the sky; nor is there a ripple on thy waters, O Gennesaret! The solitariness of nature is undisturbed, save by a concourse of people, at no great distance, where two skiffs, such as belong to the fishermen, are moored to the pebbly banks. In one of these is seated a person who is addressing the people congregated on the shore, on a subject apparently of deep interest, for they have drawn as near to the boat as the water will admit; their expression is that of fixed attention; as if they were treasuring up every word as it fell from the speaker's lips. At a little distance the fishermen, to whom the boats belong, are washing their nets, after a night of toil. The teacher who has been addressing the people from the boat, is the Lord Jesus. Among the fishermen we recognize Simon and Andrew his brother, and his partners John and James, the sons of Zebedee.

Our Lord, who had just done speaking as we

drew near, desires Simon to launch out into a deeper part of the lake, and let down the nets for a draught: Simon, while he conceives that this will be lost labour, as he and his companions had been fishing all night, and had taken nothing, nevertheless adds, " at thy word I will let down the net." They do this, and it becomes obvious that the net is loaded, which the fishermen discover is owing to the enclosure of a great multitude of fishes, so that their net breaks, and they beckon to their partners who are in the other vessel, that they may come and help them; and they coming, fill both the boats, so that they begin to sink.

Wonder seizes upon all present, at this unexpected exhibition of divine power, and Simon, feeling his own vileness and unfitness to stand in the presence of the Lord, feeling, like the prophet, that he was undone, for, being a man of unclean lips, his eyes had seen the king, the Lord of Hosts, falls down at Jesus's knees, saying, Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord."

But surely such a wish ought not to have

been suggested by an act of so much goodness as well as might. Our Lord, who had been preaching the gospel of the kingdom to all who are willing to listen, while he has proved his divine mission to the multitude, has, at the same time, abundantly provided for the wants of his followers.

Goodness is so blended with power as to inspire love as well as fear. Lord! thou hast proved that thou art every where present, the fishes of the deep, as well as the cattle on a thousand hills, are under thy command; a sense of thy presence is my only protection against the busy promptings of an evil heart, therefore

I

pray that thou wilt never leave me nor forsake me. I will not say, Depart from me, but, Abide with me, O Lord, cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me.'

Does our Lord rebuke the rashness of the awe-stricken Simon? Nay, not so. On the contrary, he gives a fresh token of his benignity. He sees that although Simon had spoken unadvisedly, as might be expected from one who was

uninstructed, yet that he spake in humility. Wherefore our Lord graciously removes his fears, in giving him to know that he is appointed to preach the gospel; to let down the gospel net, and to enclose in it, the souls of men, and that his success in this, his destined vocation, is shadowed forth by the multitude of fishes, which have been just taken, in a net let down by divine command.

The Lord Jesus addressed himself to Andrew, and to the sons of Zebedee, as well as to Simon, and with such power that they all willingly forsake, not only their employment, at a moment of unexampled success, but every worldly interest, and devote themselves to the service of God.

XI.

LUKE VII. 11.

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He has withdrawn himself and is gone. sought him but I could not find him. I called him but he gave me no answer. O! tell me where is my beloved, where is my friend? 1

And now, Capernaum! I cannot linger within thy walls; he is gone who drew me thither, and I will pursue the southward road to join him who lately passed out of thy gates. This absence of my light, my life, my all, has left me sorrowful, nor do I expect comfort, till 1 am once more in his presence.

Having reached the great plain of Esdraelon, we approach a mountain with steep and rugged sides, yet in many parts richly clothed with cedar, birch, and box-trees. Oft have we rested,

1 Can. v. 6.