residing usually at Capernaum, and the parts about it, where, by the constancy of his preaching, and the reputation of his miracles, his fame spread about all those countries; by means whereof multitudes of people from all parts flocked to him, greedily desirous to become his auditors. And what wonder, if the parched and barren earth thirsted for the showers of heaven? It happened that our Lord retiring out of the city, to enjoy the privacies of contemplation upon the banks of the sea of Galilee, it was not long before the multitude found him out; to avoid the crowd and press whereof he stept into a ship,' or fisher-boat, that lay near to the shore, which belonged to Peter (who, together with his companions, after a tedious and unsuccessful night, were gone ashore to wash and dry their nets.) He who might have commanded, was yet pleased to entreat Peter (who by this time was returned into his ship) to put a little from the shore. Here being sat, he taught the people, who stood along upon the shore to hear him. Sermon ended, he resolved to seal up his doctrine with a miracle, that the people might be the more effectually convinced that he was a teacher come from God. To this purpose, he bade Simon launch out further, and cast his net into the sea: Simon tells him they had done it already, that they had been fishing all the last night, but in vain; and if they could not succeed then (the most proper season for that employment) there was less hope to speed now, it being probably about noon. But because where God commands it is not for any to argue, but obey, at our Lord's instance he let down the net, 1 Luke, v. 1. which immediately enclosed so great a multitude of fishes that the net began to break, and they were forced to call to their partners, who were in a ship hard by them, to come to their assistance. A draught so great that it loaded both their boats, and that so full that it endangered their sinking before they could get safe to shore: an instance wherein our Saviour gave an ocular demonstration that, as Messiah, God had 'put all things under his feet, not only fowls of the air, but the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the sea.'1 5. Amazed they were all at this miraculous draught of fishes; whereupon Simon, in an ecstasy of admiration, and a mixture of humility and fear, threw himself at the feet of Christ, and prayed him to depart from him, as a vile and a sinful person. So evident were the appearances of Divinity in this miracle, that he was overpowered and dazzled with its brightness and lustre, and reflecting upon himself, could not but think himself unworthy the presence of so great a person, so immediately sent from God; and considering his own state, (conscience being hereby more sensibly awakened,) was afraid that the divine vengeance might pursue and overtake him. But our Lord, to abate the edge of his fears, assures him that this miracle was not done to amaze and terrify him, but to strengthen and confirm his faith; that now he had nobler work and employment for him; instead of catching fish, he should, by persuading men to the obedience of the gospel, catch the souls of men: and accordingly he commanded him and his brother to follow 1 Psalm viii. 6, 7, 8. him; (the same command which presently after he gave to the two sons of Zebedee.) The word was no sooner spoken, and they landed, but disposing their concerns in the hands of friends, (as we may presume prudent and reasonable men would,) they immediately left all, and followed him; and from this time Peter and the rest became his constant and inseparable disciples, living under the rules of his discipline and institutions. 6. From hence they returned to Capernaum, where our Lord, entering into Simon's house, (the place in all likelihood where he was wont to lodge during his residence in that city) found his motherin-law visited with a violent fever.' No privileges afford an exemption from the ordinary laws of human nature; Christ, under her roof, did not protect this woman from the assaults and invasions of a fever. Lord, behold he whom thou lovest is sick," as they said concerning Lazarus. Here a fresh opportunity offered itself to Christ of exerting his divine power. No sooner was he told of it but he came to her bed-side, rebuked the paroxysm, commanded the fever to be gone, and taking her by the hand to lift her up, in a moment restored her to perfect health and ability to return to the business of her family; all cures being equally easy to Omnipotence. 1 Matt. viii. 14; Mark, i. 29; Luke, iv. 38. 62 SECTION III. Of St. Peter, from his election to the Apostolate till the confession which he made of Christ. OUR Lord being now to elect some peculiar persons as his immediate vicegerents upon earth, to whose care and trust he might commit the building up of his church, and the planting that religion in the world for which he himself came down from heaven; in order to it, he privately, over night, withdrew himself into a solitary mountain,' (commonly called the mount of Christ, from his frequent repairing thither; though some of the ancients will have it to be mount Tabor,) there to make his solemn address to heaven for a prosperous success on so great a work. Herein leaving an excellent copy and precedent to the governors of his church, how to proceed in setting apart persons to so weighty and difficult an employment. Upon this mountain we may conceive there was an oratory, or place of prayer, (probably intimated by St. Luke's ǹ πρоσενxà, for such proseuchas, or houses of prayer, usually uncovered and standing in the fields, the Jews had in several places,) wherein our Lord continued all night, not in one continued and entire act of devotion, but probably by intervals and repeated returns of duty. 2. Early the next morning his disciples came to him, out of whom he made choice of twelve to be 1 Luke, vi. 12. his apostles,' that they might be the constant attendants upon his person, to hear his discourses, and be eye-witnesses of his miracles; to be always conversant with him while he was upon earth, and afterwards to be sent abroad, up and down the world, to carry on that work which he himself had begun ; whom, therefore, he invested with the power of working miracles, which was more completely conferred upon them after his ascension into heaven. Passing by the several fancies and conjectures of the ancients, why our Saviour pitched upon the just number of twelve, (whereof before,) it may deserve to be considered, whether our Lord, being now to appoint the supreme officers and governors of his church, which the apostle styles the ' commonwealth of Israel, might not herein have a more peculiar allusion to the twelve patriarchs, as founders of the several tribes; or to the constant heads and rulers of those twelve tribes, of which the body of the Jewish nation did consist: especially since he himself seems elsewhere to give countenance to it, when he tells the apostles that when the Son of Man shall sit on the throne of his glory,' that is, be gone back to heaven, and have taken full possession of his evangelical kingdom, which principally commenced from his resurrection, that then they also should sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel; that is, they should have great power and authority in the church, such as the power of the keys, and other rights of spiritual judicature and sovereignty, answerable in some proportion to the power and dignity which the heads and rulers of the twelve tribes of Israel did enjoy. 1 Matt. x. 1; Mark, iii. 14; Luke, vi. 13. |