For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken; and so were also James and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.-Luke v. 1-11.-See also John xxi. 1, 12.

And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money, came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? Of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast a hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money; that take, and give unto them, for me and thee.-Matt. xvii. 24-27.

And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there. Now in the morning, as he returned into the city, he hungered. And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig-tree withered away.-Matt. xxi. 17-20. See also Mark xi. 11-21.

ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE SACRED NARRATIVE.

Simon was busy washing his nets, when the throng of auditors forced Christ to leave the shore, and to make Peter's ship his pulpit. While he was upon the land, he healed the sick bodies by his touch; now that he was upon the sea, he cured the sick souls by his doctrine. The honest fisherman, when he saw the people flock after Christ, and heard him speak with such power, could not but conceive a general apprehension of some excellent worth in such a teacher; and therefore is glad to honour his ship with such a guest; and is first Christ's host by sea, ere he is his disciple by land. A humble and serviceable entertainment of a Prophet of God, was a good foundation of his future honour. He, that would so easily lend Christ

his hand and his ship, was likely soon after to bestow himself upon his Saviour.

Simon hath no sooner done this service to Christ, than Christ is preparing for his reward. When the sermon is ended, the ship room shall be paid for abundantly; neither shall the host expect any other paymaster than himself: "Launch forth into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught." That ship which lent Christ an opportunity of catching men upon the shore, shall be requited with a plentiful draught of fish in the deep. Rather in a desire to gratify and obey his guest, than to pleasure himself, will Simon bestow one cast of his net. Had Christ enjoined him a harder task, he had not refused; yet not without an allegation of the unlikelihood of success: "Master we have travailed all night, and caught nothing; yet, at thy word, I will let down the net." Not unjustly might Simon misdoubt his speed by day, when he had worn out the night in unprofitable labour. Sometimes God crosseth the fairest of our expectations; and gives a blessing to those times and means whereof we despair. That pains cannot be cast away, which we resolve to lose for Christ. "And when they had so done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes, so that their net brake." Never man threw out his net at the word of his Saviour, and drew it back empty. Who would not obey thee, O Christ, since thou dost so bountifully requite our weakest services?

Simon was a skilful fisher, and knew well the depth of his trade; and now perceiving more than art or nature in this draught, he falls down at the knees of Jesus, saying, "Lord, go from me, for I am a sinful man.” Himself is caught in this net. He doth not greedily fall upon so unexpected and profitable a booty, but he turns his eyes from the draught to himself, from the act to the Author, acknowledging vileness in the one, in the other majesty. It had been pity the honest fisherman should have been taken at his word. O Simon, thy Saviour is come into thine own ship to call thee, to call others by thee unto blessedness. What is this divine trade of ours then, but a spiritual fishing? The world is a sea: souls, like fishes, swim at liberty in this deep: the nets of wholesome doctrine draw up some to the shore of grace and glory! The very first draught that Peter made, after the complement of his apostleship, enclosed no less than three thousand souls! O powerful gospel, that can fetch sinful men from out of the depths of natural corruption! O happy souls, that, from the blind and muddy cells of our wicked nature, are drawn forth to the glorious liberty of the sons of God! BISHOP HALL.

"Jesus showed himself to his disciples at the sea of Tiberias ;" (John xxi. 1.) as, after Christ was crucified, they returned, for a time, to their trade and employment of fishing; though they were called to be fishers of men. Afterwards, when, at the feast of Pentecost, they had received those visible gifts of the Holy Ghost, which did furnish them for preaching the gospel to all nations.

Observe how Peter, with the rest, toil all night and catch nothing; but no sooner is Christ come among them, but they enclose a multitude of fishes: thereby teaching us, that all human labours and endeavours are in

vain, unless Christ by his presence and blessing crown them with success. What a proof Christ here gives of his Divinity and Godhead! Christ our Mediator is true God; and as such he had a sovereign power and providence over all the creatures; the cattle on a thousand hills, and all the fish swimming in the sea, are obedient to his power, and observant of his commands.

What a complication of miracles were here! as soon as they came to land they discerned another miracle—“a fire of coals, and fish laid thereon, and bread," -all created and produced by Christ out of nothing, at this time, as an evidence of Divine power: for, before they could get the fish to shore, they saw fish broiling upon coals, which makes it evident that these were none of the fish which they had caught. Christ, when he pleases, for the benefit and comfort of his people, will work miracle upon miracle, mercy upon mercy, one wonder upon the head of another: for here, after a miracle at sea, they met with another miracle at land!

This full draught of fishes, which Peter and the rest of the disciples now had, might probably presage that great and wonderful success, which he and they were afterwards to have in fishing for men. Here we have a hundred and fifty and three great fishes caught at one draught: but we find three thousand souls converted by one sermon of Peter.—Acts ii. REV. W. Burkitt.

Christ first called these disciples when they were employed in the duties of their proper profession in life, and he now manifests himself to them while they were so engaged; (John xxi. 4-13.) perhaps particularly intending thereby to encourage an honest industry, in which indeed we are far more likely to enjoy his presence, and to converse with him, than when we throw away our time in idleness and inactivity.

Awhile he leaves them to labour in vain, that when the plentiful draught of fishes came, it might be the more remarkable. Sometimes he may deal thus with his ministers, in their endeavours to catch men; that we may be convinced thereby to whose power we owe our success, and may not sacrifice to our own net, or burn incense to our own drag.—Hab. i. 16.

All the disciples rejoiced at the appearance of their Lord; but Peter was the foremost to cast himself at his feet. Conscious that so much had been forgiven him, he is solicitous to show that he loves much. Let none imagine this miracle was merely intended for a demonstration of Christ's Divine power over all that passeth through the paths of the sea.-Psal. viii. 8. It was also the work of wisdom and bounty. By the sale of so many large and fine fishes, a seasonable provision was made for the subsistence of his disciples at Jerusalem, while they were waiting for the descent of the Spirit. Luke xxiv. 49. Let every circumstance of this kind encourage us to trust him as the Lord of nature and of grace, who will withhold from us no necessary supply of either, while we are making it our humble and faithful care to promote his glory. DR. DODDRIdge.

They that received the tribute-money;" in Talmudic language, they that collect the shekels; for not the publicans, or Roman tax-gatherers, are

meant.

There was a tribute that was paid to Cæsar by the Jews; (See Matt, xxii. 17.) but that is expressed by another word, and was paid in Roman coin, which bore Cæsar's image and superscription: but this designs the collection of the half shekel, paid yearly for the service of the temple. The origin of this custom, was an order of the LORD to Moses, upon numbering the people; that every one that was twenty years of age and upwards, should give half a shekel, as atonement-money, or as a ransom for his soul; which was to be disposed of for the service of the tabernacle. -Exod. xxx. 12, 16. This does not appear to have been designed for a perpetual law, or to be paid yearly: in the time of Joash, King of Judah, a collection was made for the repairs of the temple, and the collection of Moses in the wilderness was urged by way of example: but no mention is made of the half shekel they should pay. In the time of Nehemiah, there was a yearly charge of the third part of a shekel, for the service of the temple; not by a Divine order, nor any law of Moses. From this it became fixed, that every year a half shekel should be paid by every Israelite, excepting women, children, and servants, towards the necessary charges of the temple service, and this obtained in the time of Christ. On the fifteenth of the month Adar, tables were placed, and collectors sat, in every city in Judea; so that we need not wonder that we hear of receivers of the half shekel at Capernaum.

he was

DR. GILL.

Peter, when asked if his master did not pay this tribute, answered at once that he did; knowing him to be ready for every act of piety and equity. But Jesus, preventing his mention of the subject by showing that he knew what had passed, asked him, of whom kings were accustomed to levy taxes; whether of their own children, or of strangers. Children, in this connexion, must be understood literally; and strangers must mean the children of others; for kings generally collect taxes from their subjects, though their own families be exempted. By this question he intimated, that as "the Son of God," the Lord of the temple, he had no right to contribute to the expenses there incurred, for the benefit of those who in themselves were strangers and enemies. "Our Saviour's argument, why he should not pay this tribute, as being the Son of that King to whom it was paid, holds not with reference to the other tribute paid to Cæsar, he being not the son of Cæsar, but of God."-Whitby. Lest, however, any should take offence at his refusal, as if regardless of the temple worship, he waved his privilege: and as he had no money, he ordered Peter to cast a hook into the sea, which was close by, and assured him that in the mouth of the first fish which he caught, he should find a piece of money, containing a shekel of silver, which would suffice for them both. By whatever means this piece of money was lodged in the mouth of the fish, omniscience alone could discover it there, and omnipotence ensure its being first brought to the hook of Peter! REV. T. SCOTT.

Our Lord's eye pierced through the whole world of waters; discerned the fish that had just swallowed a piece of silver-coin, and guided its course to Peter's hook. It is true, when the gatherers of the sacred tax came to

collect his share for the reparation of the temple, he had not a sufficiency of money to satisfy so small a demand; yet he takes occasion, from this most abject poverty, to manifest the immensity of his riches. He makes the deep his revenue, and bids the scaly nations bring him their tribute. Never was such indigence associated with such magnificence! Never, never let us forget, that the indigence was ours, the magnificence all his own!

How wonderful is this seemingly little miracle! or rather, what a cluster of wonders is comprised in this single act!-That any fish, with money in its mouth, should be catched,—with money just of such a value,— and in the very first fish that offered itself! What a pregnant display of omniscience to know, of omnipotence to over-rule, all these fortuitous incidents ! REV. J. HERVEY.

:

I see no reason to suppose this piece of money was created on this occasion but supposing that the fish had accidentally swallowed it, (perhaps as it was falling into the water, near some other prey,) I cannot forbear remarking how illustrious a degree of knowledge and power our Lord discovered in the case before us; knowledge, in penetrating into the bowels of this animal, though in the sea; and power, in directing this particular fish to Peter's hook, though he himself was at a distance. Hardly any circumstance can be imagined more fit to encourage him and his brethren in a firm dependance on Divine providence. And it is very natural to reflect how easily Christ could, if he had seen fit, have drawn up immense treasures, by this very method, from the heart of the sea: but he intended that his servants should be enriched and adorned in a much nobler manner than with pearls and costly array. That extent of knowledge and power which our Lord displayed on this occasion, can be at no loss for means to repay whatever we may sacrifice for his sake.

DR. DODDRIDge.

What an affecting mixture of glory and abasement was there in Christ's appearance on earth! He shone in the majesty of God; was attended with glorified saints; was avouched and owned by his Father's immediate voice; and the disciples saw his glory, as the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth: and yet for our sakes he became so poor as not to have a shekel to spare, without a miracle to provide it! O glorious and condescending Saviour! He that could command a fish to come to Peter's hook, with a piece of money, which either by his omniscience he knew was in its mouth, or by his omnipotence he put into it, could easily have supplied himself with all the stores and riches of nature; and he that raised himself from the dead, could easily have prevented his sufferings and death, if he had not chosen to submit to them. But, as his Father had in eternal counsels determined, he freely consented to them, that he might glorify him on earth, and bring redemption to his people. DR. GUISE.

Jesus left "the chief-priests and scribes" confounded and put to silence, and went out of Jerusalem; partly to remove all suspicion of seizing the