360 The NEW and COMPLETE LIFE of our BLESSED LORD multiply itfelf, and, to diffufe it's influences all around, efpecially on thofe whom na- ture has placed nearefl to us. " I have (laid he with rapture to his brother) found that eminent perfon fo long and Ggnally fore- told by the prophets, and whom all the devoutand pious amoogfi the Ions ofJacob fo earneftly expeûed to appear." St. Peter, who was one of thofe who waited for redemption in Ifrael, ravilbed with this joyful news, and impatient of de- lay, prefently followed his brother to the place; and on his arrival, our bleffed Sa- viour immediately gave hint a proof of his divinity, faluting him at firfl fight by his name, and telling him both who he was, his name and kindred, and what title fhould loon be conferred upon him by the autho- rity of his Mailer. Whether there two Eons ofJonah con. namely attended in perfon from that time on the great Redeemer of mankind, and became his difciples, the facred hillorydoes not mention. It is however probable, that they flayed withhimforce time,till they were inflruéled in the firfl rudiments of his doc- trine, and then, by the leave oftheir great and benevolent Mailer, returned to their funilies and to their callings; for it is rea- fonable to fuppofe, that the blefléd Jesus was not at this time willing to awaken the jealoufy of the rulers of Ifrael, and the fufpicion of the Romans, by a numerous retinue, and thereforediliniffed his difciples, and amongfi the reft Andrew and Peter, who returned totheir trade of ñfhing on the lake, where they were aftewards found by our bleffed Redeemer. Our Lord had now more than a year entered on his public miniffry, going into every part Of the country, to reek oppor- tunities of doing good to the children of men ; fo that by the conflancy of his preaching, and the reputation of his mi- racles, his fame was fpread throughout all Judea, and multitudes of people flocked to him from all parts to Lear his doarine, and be fpedlators of his mighty works. And furely it is no wonder that the parched and barren earth thirfled for the kindly dews and flowersof heaven, to re- frelh it. In order to avoid this prodigious throng of people, our great Redeemer often re- tired to lone folitary place, to indulge the privacies ofcontemplation : inone of there retreats on the banks ofthe Seaof Galilee, the multitude found him out, and ran to hint from the city. Our Saviour, there- fore, to avoid the crowd, flepped into a fifhing-boat, which lay near the chore, and belonged to Simon Peter, who, together with his companions wereon chore drying their nets after an unfuccefsful night fpent in toil and labour. The bleffedJ£sus, who might have commanded, was pleafed to entreat Peter, who now returned to his boat, to thrufl off a little from the land, that he might inftrna the people, who were gathered in prodigious crowds on the borders of the Lake, to hear him. St. Peter gladly complied with the re- quell of his Mailer, who delivered his hea- venly doélrine to the people on the thoe. As foon as he had ended his difcourfe, he refolved to Peal his miracle, that the people might be perfuaded he was a teacher cmxr front God : accordingly, he ordered Simon to row further from the (lore, and call his net into the fea. To which Simon an- fivered, that they had laboured the whole preceding night, and had taken nothing ; and if they could not then fueceed, there was little hopes of it now; as the day was far lefs proper for fifhing titan the night : but, as his Matter was pleafed to command, he would readily obey; and, accordingly, he let down his net, when, to théaflonilh- ment both of him and his companions, fo great a multitude of fillies were enclofed, that they were obliged to call their partners to their aflìflance. Amazed at this miraculous draught of Gibes, Simon Peter, in an ecllacy of ad- miration, blended with awe and humility, fell proftrate at his Matter's feet, acknow- ledging himfelf a vile and fiaful perfon, and thinking himfelf unworthy of being admitted
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