66 1. "AF ST. JOHN, CHAP. XXI. FTER these things Jefus fhewed himself again to the difciples at "the fea of Tiberias; and on this wife "fhewed he himself: 66 2. There were together Simon-Peter, "and Thomas called Didymus, and Na"thanael of Cana in Galilee, and the fons " of Zebedee, and two other of his difciples. 66 3. Simon-Peter faith unto them, I go "a fishing. They fay unto him, We also 66 go with thee. They went forth, and "entered into a ship immediately; and "that night they caught nothing." After After the death of their Master, the difciples returned, for a fhort time, to their former occupations: pride, or floth, would have ill become the fervants of him who was all humility and meekness, and whose whole life had been paffed in rendering fervice to the bodies, as well as to the fouls of his offending creatures. St. Paul, also, pursued the fame course, employing his leisure hours in providing for his own maintenance: this he did, not only as an example of industry, but to prevent any murmuring amongst his followers, at being obliged to fupport him; which might have proved prejudicial to the gofpel of Chrift, and fome bar to the propagation of it. I shall select one or two paffages, in which he expreffes himself fully on this subject, (Acts, chap. xx. ver. 33.34.) "I have coveted no man's fil 66 ver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye your "felves know, that these hands have mini"ftered unto my neceffities, and to them "that were with me;" and, again, in his firft epiftle to the Theffalonians, (chap. ii. ver. 9.:) "For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travel. For labouring 66 66 66 66 night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preach"ed unto you the gospel of God." The disciples had been directed by an angel to repair to Galilee, where they should again behold their beloved Master: (St. Matthew, chap. xxviii. ver. 7.) " And go quickly, and tell his disciples, that he is "rifen from the dead: And behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there "fhall ye fee him lo, I have told you." Thither, therefore, they went; and, during the time they waited in expectation of their Lord's appearance, they endeavored to provide themselves with the neceffaries of life. Their time became too precious, after they had received from him his laft and full commiffion, to be spent in any other employ than that of the propagation of the gospel. 66 66 4. But when the morning was now come, Jefus ftood on the fhore: but the 66 difciples knew not that it was Jefus. "5. Then Jefus faith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They an"fwered him, No. 66 ye 6. And he faid unto them, Caft the "net on the right fide of the ship, and fhall find. They caft therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for "the multitude of fishes. 86 7. Therefore that disciple, whom "Jefus loved, faith unto Peter, It is the "Lord. Now when Simon-Peter heard "that it was the Lord, he girt his fifher's "coat unto him, (for he was naked) and "did caft himself into the fea. "8. And the other difciples came in a "little fhip (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits) dragging the net with fishes. 66 "9. As foon then as they were come to "land, they faw a fire of coals there, and "fifh laid thereon, and bread. "10. Jefus faith unto them, Bring of "the fish which ye have now caught. 66 11. Simon-Peter went up, and drew "the "the net to land, full of great fishes, an "hundred and fifty and three: and for all "there were so many, yet was not the net "broken. "12. Jefus faith unto them, Come and “dine. And none of the difciples durft "afk him, Who art thou? knowing that it "was the Lord. "13. Jefus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewife.. 66 14. This is now the third time that Jefus fhewed himself to his disciples, after that he was rifen from the dead." The ill fuccefs of the disciples, for so long a time, made the miraculous draught of fishes which they took upon the command of Jefus appear the more ftriking, and immediately convinced St. John that the perion who had been conversing with them could be no other than the Lord himself; this was confirmed when they came to land. It is most probable that he himself ate with them at this time, to convince them |