Astonish'd, Peter kneeld, and thus began, Depart from me, for I'm a sinful man! "Fear not, but follow me, our Lord replies; "Henceforth you men shall take their souls a nobler prize."

THE DRAUGHT OF FISHES.

What can we hope, he says, but fruitless pain
Where all the night we've toil'd, and toil'd in vain?
Yet at thy word we'ill try, and, as he spake
They cast, and then a numerous draught they take.

"WHEN Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord. For he was astonished at the draught of the fishes which they had taken. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not, from henceforth thou shalt catch men." (Luke v. 8, 9, 10.)

Christ preached the gospel of the kingdom of heaven, that is, of grace and glory; and wherever he went he confirmed his Divine mission by a variety of miracles. The people pressed upon Jesus, to hear the word of God. And as he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, every one striving to get near him, he was crowded; so he went into

the ship that belonged to Simon. There he sat down, and taught the people his heavenly doctrine. These fishermen had some conversation with him before, at John's baptism, (John i. 40.) but now were called into more intimate fellowship with the Lord.

When Christ had done preaching, he ordered Peter to apply to the business of his calling. He commanded Peter and his crew to cast their nets into the sea, which they did, in obedience to him, though they had been hard at work all night, and had caught nothing.

The draught of fishes was miraculous. By this Christ showed his power and dominion in the seas, as well as on the dry land. He hereby gave a specimen of their success to those who were to be his ambassadors in the world. It greatly corro

borates the evidence of Christ's miracles, that those best acquainted with them most admired them. And when Christ's works of wonder are works of grace to us, then especially they command our faith in his doctrine.

Peter, above all the rest, was so astonished, that he thought himself unworthy of the favour of Christ's presence in his boat. His acknowledgment was very just, and what it becomes us all to make: "I am a sinful man, O Lord." Even the best men are sinful, and should be ready on all occasions to acknowledge it, and especially to Jesus Christ. Let us ask, to whom else but to Him who came into the world to save sinners, should sinful men apply? Peter might well, in a sense of his own sinfulness, cry out on a sudden, "Depart from me." We are all sinful, therefore Jesus

Christ might justly depart from us. But we must fall down and pray to him that he would not depart from us; for woe unto us, if he leave us-if the Saviour depart from the sinful man! Rather let us entreat him to come and dwell in our hearts by faith, that he may transform and cleanse our hearts from sin.

Christ took occasion from hence to intimate to Peter, and soon after to James and John, (Matt. iv. 21.) his purpose to make them his apostles. He said unto Simon, Thou shalt both see and do greater things than these. Fear not. By Peter's preaching, three thousand souls were in one day added to the church. Thus the type of this great draught of fishes was truly exemplified.