WHereas heere our Sauiour translates this phrase of Fishing , or catching , from an ordinary and inferiour course , vnto a more heauenly and spirituall businesse , euen to the winning of soules ; it giues very direct occasion to handle these things .

First , The state of the world , which is as the Sea .

Secondly , the state of the Church , which is as a Ship or Boate in the Sea .

Thirdly , the state of men by nature , who be as Fishes ranging after their owne disposition , vncaught .

Fourthly , the state of Ministers , who bee as Fishers .

Fiftly , the state of the Gospell preached , which is the hooke , or baite , or net to take soules .

These things are not strained or forced , but arise out of the place directly . For sith Peter and the rest must change their course , and fall to a new kind of Fishing ; what is the Sea which they must lanch out into , but the World ? what is the Boate , but the Church in which they labour , & to which they seek to gather soules ? what is the booty they must seeke for , but the sonnes of men ? and what are they but so many Fishers ? or what is their net , but the Gospell , the word of Saluation which they Preach ? Of euery of these I will speake something , and that briefly .

That the state of the World , is as the Sea , it is plaine by these places ; Before the throne there was a Sea of glasse like vnto Chrystall ( a a Reu. 4. 6. ) , In that day the Lord with his sore and great and mighty sword shall slay the Dragon that is in the Sea ( b b I ▪ 27. 1. ) : And the state of the World is as the Sea in a fourfold respect ; The State of this World compared to the Sea in 4. respects . first , because of the generall vnstablenesse of the things thereof . The vnsedlednesse of that vast creature the Sea is well knowne . It is in continuall motion ( it cannot rest c c Isai. 57. 20. it ) ebbes and flowes perpetually : sometimes ( at a Spring-tyde ) it swels to that bignesse , that the bankes cannot containe it ; sometimes againe , it falles backe so low , that a man must goe farre from the banke before hee can come neere it . It is ( vnder God ) chiefly gouerned by the Moone , then the which there is no one thing more subiect vnto change , it being neuer beheld two nights together in one proportion . Thus is the World , whether wee looke vpon the generall states of Kingdomes , or the personall estates of particular men , either for their goods or for their bodies , wee see nothing but a continuall alteration : Crownes are translated from head to head , and Scepters passe from one hand to another ; fenced Cities are made heapes , and walled Townes become as the plowed fields : they which were once fastened as a nayle in a sure place , and hauing set their nests on hie , dreamed of nothing but perpetuities for them & theirs , are suddenly throwne out of all , and rolled and turned like a ball ( d d Is. 22. 18 : ) . The great houses are smitten with breaches ( e e Àm. 6. 11. ) & the wide dwellings and large chambers , sieled with cedar , and painted with vermilion ( f f Ier. 22. 14. ) , are in a moment left without an inhabitant ( g g Is. 5. 9. ) . Haman is to day the second in the Kingdome , but stript of all , is hanged vp to morrow ( h h Hest. 7. 10. ) . This yeare is Ierusalem the Princesse among the Prouinces , but the next yeare made tributarie ( i i Lam. 1. 1. ) ; her nobles which did erewhile put on scarlet , do now embrace the dung k k Lam 4. 5. . Now doth Nebuchadnezzar walke in his royall palace of Babel , priding himselfe in his outward state ; but while the word was in the Kings mouth , a voice came downe from Heauen , saying , O King Nebuchadnezzar , to thee bee it spoken , thy Kingdome is departed from thee , l l Dan. 4. 26. &c. &c. : Yesterday Iobs cattell went out by their thousands , he had both sonnes and daughters to doe him honour , and seruants at his command : to day heere is not a hoofe to bee seene in his ground , not a childe to call him blessed , not a ladde left to attend him . This is the vncertainty of this ebbing and flowing World , the fashion of it goeth away m m 1. Cor. 7. 31 .

2. Because of the tumultuousnesse of it : who is ignorant of the stormes and grieuous tempests which are at Sea ? There especially men see the workes of the Lord and his wonders in the deepe : For he commandeth and raiseth the stormy winde , and it lifteth vp the waues thereof n n Psal. 107. 24. 25. . The World is a fit patterne heereof , in respect of the continuall stirs and troubles that are in it : Nation against Nation by warres , man against man by diuers kindes of contentions , of euery one that liues therein is the saying of Iob verified , Man that is borne of a woman is full of trouble o o Chap 14. 1. , Man is borne vnto trauaile , as the sparks fly vpward p p Chap. 5. 7. . It was the punishment which God layed vpon him , that in sorrow hee should eate his bread all the daies of his life q q Gen. 3. 17. : and albeit some haue a more calme passage then some others haue , or like Ionas r r Chap. 1. 5. can lye and sleepe , when others are tossed with the storme , yet none can liue without some vexation ; he is not alwaies caried with full sayles to the end of his desires .

3. The world resembles the Sea by the oppression that is in it . At Sea the lesser fishes are a prey to the great ones ; and in the World , the rich and mightie swallow vp the poore s s Am. 8. 4. : one man bites and deuoures another t t Cal. 5. 15. ; Manasseth , Ephraim ; Ephraim , Manasseth u u Is. 9. 21. . To this pertaines that of the Prophet , That men are made as the fishes of the Sea x x Hab. 1. 14.

4. In respect of the sway the Diuell beares in it . Obserue what is in the Psame , The Sea is great and wide , there is that Leuiathan whom the Lord hath made to play therein y y Psal. 104. 26 . Now looke how this monster domineeres in the Sea , so doth Sathan heere in the World : therefore he is called the God of this World z z 2. Cor. 44. , and said to worke in the children of disobedience * * Ephes. 2. 2. : And to iustifie this comparison , as the World is called the Sea , so is the Diuell Leuiathan a a Is 27. 1. . Thus we see how the World is compared to the Sea : The state of the Sea is vncertaine , so is the World ; it is tempestuous , so is the World full of tumult : In it the great fishes deuoure the lesse , so in the World the poore and weake are a spoile to the mightie : Leuiathan takes his pleasure in the Sea , so doth Sathan rule and beare sway in the World .

To presse forward the counsell of S. Iohn , Vse . Loue not the world neither the things that are in the world b b 1. Epist. 2. 25

The Doctrine now deliuered , affoords a strong reason to enforce it : For where there is so much vncertaintie , so much confusion and trouble , such oppression and cruelty , where the Diuell beareth such exceeding sway ; what is there to be found worth delighting in ? A man imagines himselfe sure in respect of his outward estate ; at an instant comes as it were a waue and washeth away all : he promiseth peace and quietnesse to himselfe ; suddenly ariseth a storme , and puts him to a trouble which he thought not of : much adoe shall he haue to escape the hands of the oppressor , be he as he will ; nay , the better and holyer he is , so much the more that great Leuiathan that olde serpent hath him in continuall chase . Marke and consider , oh ye men of the earth , all whose striuing and plotting and plodding is for the world ; consider what it is vpon which you dote and with which you are enamoured so exceedingly ; it is euen a very Sea of vncertainties and bottomelesse Ocean of confused vexation , the very hold & kingdome of the diuell . We hunt after it , but where is our assurance when we haue got it ? or what haue we procured to our selues , but vanitie and vexation of spirit ? The further we wade into it , the further are we from the Lord : for the amitie of the World is the enmitie of God c c Iam. 4. 4. , and the more businesse we haue in it , in the greater hazard we are to be drowned in perdition & destruction d d 1. Tim. 6. 9. . Happy were it for vs if the meditation of this point touching the proportion which is betwixt the World and Sea , were able to vnglue and vntwist our affections , which are so neerely tyed vnto it , and to stirre vs vp like passengers by Sea to long for the Hauen , and to striue for that eternall rest , a kingdome not of vncertaintie , but which cannot be shaken ; a place not of trouble , but where shall be no more death , neither sorrow , neither crying , neither shall be any more paine e e Reu. 21. 4. . There the prince of darkenesse cannot endanger ; for the Lamb is the light of it f f ver. 23. , and God himselfe shall be all in all to those that dwell therein g g 1. Cor. 15. 28. . This is the Vse .

THe next thing is touching the Church : The state thereof in the World is like the state of a Ship or Boate vpon the Sea ; The state of the Church in this world , compared to a ship or boat vpon the Sea . And that especially in this respect : Because it is subiect to continuall tossings .

Of Trauailers by Sea it is said , that they are tossed too and fro , and stagger like drunken men , and all their cunning is gone h h Psal. 107 27 . Not vnlike to this is the state and condition of Gods Church . It fareth with it , as with the Ship Ionas was in ; There was a mightie tempest in the Sea , so that the Ship was like to be broken i i Chap. 1. 4. : or which the Disciples were in ; There arose a great tempest in the Sea , so that the Ship was couered with waues k k Mat. 8. 24. . Such was the state of the Church of old , the members whereof complained , how the waters had almost drowned them , and the streame had gone ouer their soule l l Psal. 124. 4. . And Dauid as a man experienced in such stormes , cryeth out to God m m Psal. 69. 1. , Saue me , for the waters are entred , euen to my soule : and deliuer and take mee out of the great waters n n Psal. 144 7. . And as it was with the Ship in which Paul was so exceedingly hazarded , that they saw neither Sunne nor Starres in many daies o o Act. 27. 20. : so the Church of God , is often driuen into that extremitie , that it is for a time , euen depriued of all ordinary comfort , and seemes to bee without all hope of any more refreshing . Hence are these complaints of the Church , O God why hast thou put vs away for euer ? Why is thy wrath kindled against the sheepe of thy pasture ? thinke vpon thy congregation &c. p p Psal. 74. 1 2. ; and wilt thou be angry with vs for euer ? and wilt thou prolong thy wrath from one generation to another ? wilt thou not turne againe &c. q q Psal. 85. 5. 6 . Thus Dauid as a trauailer in this Ship , cryed out , Will the Lord absent himselfe for euer ? and will he no more shew fauour r r Psal 77. 7. ? And Heman the Ezrahite ; Lord why dost thou reiect my soule , and hidest thy face from me s s Psal. 88. 14. ? It is a law that cannot be broken , that the chosen of God must thorow many afflictions enter into the kingdome of God t t Act. 14. 22. ; God hath so appointed for his owne glory .

First , the troubles of his Church and the afflictions of his people , do make his power and mercy to be knowne ; euen as the skill of a Pilot , is most to be seene in a storme : My power is made perfect through weakenesse u u 1. Cor. 12. 9. . The Lord bringeth matters to an exigent , and suffereth them to come to the very brinke of hazard , that so his might and goodnesse in the deliuery of his seruants may be the more apparent . When the Church of Israel was in a wonderfull strait , the Sea before them , the mountaines on both sides , the enemyes at their heeles , Now ( sayth God ) I will get me honour vpon Pharaoh , and vpon all his host : the Egyptians also shall know that I am the Lord x x Exod. 14. 4. .

2. For their good : first , It makes them to looke vpward with the greater feruency . Dauid sayth of ordinary passengers by Sea , that when they mount vp to the heauen , and descend to the deepe , so that their soule melteth for trouble &c , then they cry vnto the Lord in their trouble &c. y y Psal. 107. 28. . The Mariners with Ionas when the storme was vp , downe were they vpon their knees , and euery man cryed vnto his God z z Ioans 1. 5. . And so the swelling waues of afflictions , do not quench but kindle the deuotion of Gods seruants ▪ In their affliction they will seeke me diligently a a Hosea 5. 15. . Secondly , it makes them long so much the more for the Hauen ( where they would be . ) Note Paules dayly dying , and the continuall troubles which he was exposed vnto , made him long to be dissolued c c Phil. 1. 23. , and to be as glad when his time of departing was at hand d d 2. Tim. 4 6. , as the poore weather-beaten Mariner is to see the land . Thirdly , it makes the deliuerance when it comes to be the more esteemed e e Psal. 107. 30. , When they are quieted they are glad , and double welcome is that refreshing which comes at the very pinch of necessity . The redeeming of Dauids life from the graue , the raysing him vp from the very mouth of the pit , made him to vow with himselfe neuer to forget f f Psa. 103. 2. 4.

This serues to adm̄onish all that feare God , Vse 1. what they must make prouision for , if they will be saued . By their profession , they are entred into the Church of God , not as into a Garden of pleasure , where they may aduenture to say euery one to his soule , Soule , liue at ease , eate , drinke , and take thy pastime g g Luke 12. 19. ; but as into a Ship , a house of continuall motion , where though there may be calmenesse for a time , the Sun shining out , the winds layd , and the Sea smooth , yet it is wisedome to be in continuall expectation of a storme . God hath not called vs vnto case and quiet , but to the crosse . Many things are to be endured betwixt our setting out here , and our arriuall at the Land of Promise . Many stormes to bee gone through , many rocks and sands to be aduentured by , many Pirats seeking the spoyle of our soules to be grapled with , before the hauen of Rest can be entred into . The ignorance , or the inconsideration of this point hath deceiued many . They may thus fitly be shadowed out . Some fresh trauailer standing vpon the shore in a faire day , and beholding the Ships in their beautie lye readie rigged and trimmed in the Harbor , thinks it a gallant thing to goe to Sea , and will need aduenture ; but being out a league or two , and feeling by the rocking of the Ship his stomacke begin to worke and grow sicke , and his soule euen to abhorre all manner of meat ; or otherwise a storme to arise , the wind and the water as it were conspiring the ouerthrow of the vessell , and euery sea carrying in it the face of death ; forthwith repents his folly , and makes vowes , that if he can once recouer the shore , he will bid an eternall farewell vnto all such voyages . Thus , there be who in the calme dayes of peace , when Religion is not ouer-clowded by the times , that will needs ioyne themselues to the number of Gods people , they will be as earnest and forward as the best . But when a tempest begins to appeare , and the Sea to grow rougher then at the first entry , the times alter , trouble is raysed , and many crosse winds of much opposition and gainsaying begin to blow , they are weary of their course , and will needs be set ashore againe , resoluing neuer to thrust themselues into any more aduentures . How needfull then is it that Christians should often remember , how by Christs speech here , the Church is necessarily resembled to a Ship ? enter not into it , to be a guide or a passenger , a Minister , or a professor , vnlesse thou resolutely make prouision for a storme . Till the end of the voyage there is no rest to be looked for : wherein notwithstanding this may be for a comfort , that this Ship ( the Church of God ) hath a priuiledge which none hath else , no not the greatest Gallioun or Argosy vnder heauen ; It may be tossed , but can neuer be drowned , Though the waters of the sea rage and bee troubled , and the mountaines shake at the surges thereof ; God is in the midst of it , therefore shall it not be moued , God shall help it very early h h Psal. 46 ▪ 3. 5. . It is as the Arke of Noah , which ( because God had shut it vpon Noah ) therefore it was borne vp euen amidst the waues i i Gen. 7. 16. 17 ; or as the Boate in which Christ was k k Mat. 8. 24. 26 , which was welneere couered with waters , yet at an instant , by the command of him which is the Lord of the Sea , there followed a gracious calme . Christ is the Pilot , and ( as was sayd of Paul ) God hath giuen to him all that sayle with him l l Act. 27. 24. , and he will giue them eternall life , and they shall neuer perish m m Iohn 10. 18. .

The second vse serues to teach vs ( because the Church of God is as a Ship in this sea of the world ) the necessity of furnishing our selues with such things as appertaine to this spirituall voyage : Vse 2 not to insist vpon many , two things especially must be looked too . First , That we be diligent in obseruing the direction appointed by God , for the true guidance of our course . The Sea-men haue their Card and their Compasse , they haue the Sun and Stars , and the motions of heauen to direct them . That which our course must be guided by is the word of God ; it is like the pillar that went before the host of Israel according to the mouing or standing whereof they ordered all their iourneyes . Hither may be referred that of Peter n n 2. Epist. 1. 19. , We haue a most sure word of the Prophets , to which ye do well that ye take heed , as vnto a light that shineth in a darke place . It is an allusion to a Sea-course : when the Admirall hangs out a Lanterne , and all that come behind steere to that . We cannot wander if we be led by this light : It is that good Spirit which Dauid prayed to be led by vnto the land of righteousnesse o o Psal. 143. 10. . What other Load-star of custome , or opinion or fashion of the times men attend vpon , they must needs run vpon the rocks and make shipwrack of the faith . Secondly , That we take with vs the knowledge and faith of Gods promises . It is called the Anchor , Hebr. 6. 19. This is our stay , in the day of tempest ; I know whom I haue belieued p p 2. Tim. 1. 12. : such an one cannot be moued , for his heart is fixed , and belieueth in the Lord q q Psal. 112. 7. . The promises being either not knowne or not applied , the soule is tossed without rest , and must needs be ouerwhelmed with despaire . This Anchor being tyed to the soule by the strong cable of a li●ely faith , giues comfort vnto it in the greatest storme .

THE third thing is concerning the state of men . The state of men by nature compared to fishes in the Sea , ranging after their owne disposition ▪ t vncaught . Doctrine . The fish to be catched out of this Sea , and to be brought into this Ship , are men , Thou sha't catch men from hence-forth . From whence this is gathered :

That we are all by nature in the state of condemnation . This is cleere out of this place . By this fishing , or catching ( the very substance of the Ministers office ) is meant , a bringing of men into the way of life . Now then , in as much as we are all by nature vncaught ( otherwise why should Christ send out his Apostles to take vs ? ) it followeth , that we are all by nature without grace , euen in the very gulfe and iawes of eternall woe . This is easily prooued by the Scriptures ; All flesh hath corrupted his way vpon the earth r r Genes. 6. 12. . The Lord looked downe from heauen vpon the children of men , to see if there were anie that would understand and seeke God . All are gone out of the way : they are all corrupt , there is none that doth good , no not one s s Psal 14. 2. 3. . All we like sheepe haue gone astray : we haue turned euery one to his owne way t t Isa. 53. 6. : By nature the children of wrath aswel as others u u Ephes. 2. 3. ; without Christ , and were aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel , and were strangers from the Couenant of Promise , and had no hope , and were without God in the world x x Verse 12. : Vnwise , disobedient , deceiued , seruing the lusts &c. y y Titus 3. 3. Destruction and calamitie are in our waies z z Rom. 3. 16. .

And well in this are we compared vnto the fish : For as the fishes skippe and play and take their pleasure in the sea , and are vnwillingly taken in the net , and labour to get out , and being in the boate , would faine , if they could , leape backe into the sea ; so naturally wee take pleasure in our sinfull wayes . It is a pastime for a foole to do wickedly a a Prou 10 23. . The net of the Gospell must enclose vs ; of our selues we abhor it , and to the death will not come within the compasse of it ; and being entangled , we desire still to be loosed , and to returne againe vnto our wonted course . This is the verie true state of vs all . We neither are in the state of grace by nature , neither doe we desire it . We be plunged into a sea of miserie , and in our owne disposition we would neuer forsake it .

It were well for vs , if we could learne by this to see our selues what we be , and what we would euer be , if we were lest to the swinge of our owne affections . Nature hath ( as it were ) spawned vs forth into this worldly sea : and as it selfe lieth in wickednesse b b 1 Iohn 5 19 , so do we drinke iniquitie like water c c Iob 15. 16. . It is sweete vnto vs in our mouth , and we hide it vnder the tongue , we sauour it , and will not forsake it , but keepe it close in the mouth d d Iob 20. 12. 13 . We neither know the meanes of our saluation , nor affect it when it is offered . Either the Scripture is false , or this is true . How happy were we if this could humble vs ! it would make vs afrayd of following our owne thoughts , or of being led by the sway of our owne hearts . Our not knowing the miserie of our owne estate , is the cause of all the securitie , of all the profanenesse , of all the boldnesse in sinne , of all the contempt of Gods word which is in the world at this day . This place among others , is as a glasse to shew vs what wee are ; strangers from saluation , and as farre from anie inclination to it as a fish is from a will and desire to be caught .

THe fourth thing is of the state of the Minister . The state of ministers , who be as Fishers . Heere are two things : First , the state of the Ministerie : Secondly , the labour , businesse and worke of the Ministerie . Of the first thus we see :

That it is no superfluous or needelesse function , Doctrine 1. but a calling of great necessitie for the winning and sauing of mens soules . This is euident out of this place . The Lord intending the conuersion of some , and being able diuers waies to accomplish his purpose in that behalfe , yet hath thought it good to single out this meanes among all the rest , euen by man to catch man , and by his ministerie to bring soules into his Kingdome . This is that which the Apostles , saith , Ephe. 4. 11. 12. He gaue some to be Apostles , and some Prophets , and some Euangelists , and some Pastors and Teachers , for the repairing of the Saints , for the worke of the Ministery . The Saints which belong to the election of grace , being scattered vp on the earth here and there , his pleasure is by Paul and Timothie to gather them together vnto himselfe . They be the Lords Labourers to bring in his Haruest e e Matt. 9. 38. , his Workemen to aduance his building f f 1 Cor. 3. 9. , his Shepheards to take heed vnto his flocke g g Acts 20. 28. , the Stars in his right hand to giue light vnto his Church h h Reuel. 1. 20. . There being thousands of soules to be saued in Iurie , the Lord will haue them to be brought in by Peters ministerie i i Acts 2. 41. : Philip must be sent to catch the Samaritans and the Eunuch k k Acts 8. . In Corinthus there was a great draught ( I haue much people in this Citie : ) therefore there Paul must goe to worke l l Acts 18. 10. . Heere is the necessitie of the calling .

To reproue their prophane and wretched opinion , Vse who thinke , that among all the professions which are at this day in the world , that of the Ministerie may best be spared . It is strongly thought by many , that it were no danger or preiudice to mens soules , though there were no Minister at all to instruct them . O say some , what neede they trouble themselues ? Euerie man must answer for his owne soule ; and if we do not as we should , we shall beare the blame .

Thus they would shift off all dependance vpon the ordinance of God , and lay an imputation of superfluitie vpon that calling , by which it is the pleasure of God to saue those that beleeue . This one place is sufficient to stop their mouth ; For I may truly auouch it out of the words heere , that ( ordinarily ) there is no more hope of a mans saluation without an able and industrious Minister , then there is that the fish in the Sea will of it selfe come ashoare , and offer it selfe vnto vs without the labour of some , to go out into the deep with boates and nets to bring them in . Henceforth thou shalt catch men .

Secondly , thus : Doctrine 2. . That the calling of the Minister is noidle calling , but a calling of labour , a calling of much businesse and of great employment .

The Ministers are fishers , whether that be not a profession of much labour , iudge you . To make the thing it selfe manifest , this is worthie to be obserued ; That the most names giuen in the Scripture to men of this calling , doe betoken labour ; Seers m m 1. Sam. 9. 9. , Watchmen n n Ezech. 3. 17. , Embassadours o o 2 Cor. 5. 20. , Labourers p p Matth. 9. 38. , Disposers q q 1. Cor. 4. 1. , Husbandmen r r Mar. 12. 2. , Seedes men s s 1. Cor. 3. 9. , Shepheards t t Iohn 10. 2. , Cryers u u Lu. 3. 4. . There is no title giuen them , but implieth action , yea and industry very great . It is a worthie worke x x 1. Tim. 3. 1. , their Maintenance is with that condition y y 1. Thes 5. 13 1. Cor. 9. 14. ; otherwise no title , no name nor shew can free them from Contempt z z Matth. 5. 13 .

It meeteth with two euills in Ministers ; first , the idlenesse which hath ouertaken some that are called to this busie profession ; They are such as the Prophet reproueth , Vse 1. Watchmen that are blinde , that haue no knowledge , that are dumbe dogges and cannot barke : that lie and sleepe and delight in sleeping a a Isa. 56. 10. . I take no pleasure in laying open the nakednesse of men of mine owne coate : yet God forbid that I should vse my tongue to the licking of their sores , which prooue the very bane of Gods Church , and doe make it lie like the field of the sluggard , or as the garden of the idler . Secondly , the spirit of greedinesse which ( is to be feared ) is in many . They can neuer haue enough &c. b b Isa. 56. 11. . They goe out to catch , yet not soules to God , but preferments to themselues , and are still fishing for aduauncement . They haue not learned that of the Apostle : I seeke not yours , but you c c 2. Cor. 12 14 ; It is not your fauour which I doe affect , it is not your wealth which I seeke for , it is your saluation which I endeuour . This is the honour of a mans ministerie , the glorie and crowne of his calling .

It ouerthroweth the common fancie of the Vse 2. people , who account the Ministers calling to be an idle and a lazie calling ; we get our liuings easily in the conceit of some , and it is no sinne nor pitty ( in their vnderstanding ) to defraud vs ; and how vsuall is it in the mouthes of many , to say , Wee must labour for them ? I confesse , that as some vse it , it is a calling of excessiue idlenesse , if they be such as feede themselues , and feede not the flockes d d Ezech. 34. 1 , such as take away the key of Knowledge e e Lu. 11. 52. ; but consider it in it owne nature , and as it ought to be performed , we shall finde it to be a seruice of greater businesse . Let Peter , or anie successour of Peter busie himselfe ( as he must ) sometimes in preparing , sometimes in mending , sometimes in casting abroad , sometimes in drawing in his net ; no man shall haue any iust cause to twit him with idlenesse , or to say , That because he is a Minister , therefore he hath an easie occupation .

THe last thing is , That the nette in which men must be taken , Doctrine . is the preaching of the Gospell .

Christ heere acquainting them generally with his purpose how to employ them , The state of the Gospell preached , compared to a hooke , baite , or net , to catch mens oules . after changed the phrase when it came to the poynt of execution ; and he which now spake of fishing ; told them afterwards of preaching , Matth. 10. chapter verse 7. of Teaching the nations f f Matt. 28. 19. , of Declaring the Gospell to euerie creature g g Mar. 16. 15. , of Feeding his sheepe h h Iohn 21. 15. : and Christ himselfe compareth the Gospell to net i i Matt. 13. 47. . The comparison agreeth fitly after this maner :

The preaching of the Gospell is like to a net ; first , in the generall drift and vse : the vse of a net is to take fish : the drift of preaching is to bring in soules . Secondly , in the ordering of it : It is not the net lapped vp together that bringeth in the draught , but haled out at length and spread forth that encloseth the fish : It is the opening and vnfolding of the Gospell , the stretching it out by preaching which doth encompasse soules . There may a fish or two hang in the net being let downe on a heape , but that is a chaunce , and is no wise aduenturing . The word read , and so brought in ( as it were ) in grosse , may ( by the mercy of God ) take some ; but we haue no warrant from hence to make a rule generall . Againe , it is neede that the nette be strong , otherwise the greater kinde will breake through , and make all the labour and charge to be in vaine ; so it is meete that the Doctrine be well strengthened out of the word of God , that it be well prooued , that it be well pressed and applyed , that the consciences of the hearers may be conuicted , and that they may see it is God , and not man with whom they haue to do . For a man shall meete with many froward and wilfull and violent natures , that will not be held in , but when they feele themselues within the net will cry , Let vs breake thier bands , and cast their cords from vs k k Psal. 2. 3. ; so that euen a kinde of violence may be vsed to keep them from destruction . Thirdly , in the successe of it . Many a draught the poore Fisherman makes and taketh nothing , yet he leaueth not off : many a time is the net of preaching shot forth , and yet none conuerted thereby : so it pleaseth God to exercise the patience of his seruants ; yet still the worke must be followed , and the Lords leisure must be waited for . Often doth the net inclose many , which yet after breake away ; and many are at first drawne in by the power of the Gospell , which yet afterwards slide backe and returne againe to their old profanenesse . There is much brought in in the Net , which yet is good for nothing when it is got : There come in frogs , and weeds , and a great deale of trash , which in the end is cast away , though for the loue of the fish there were no little paines in drawing it in : so , as it is shewed Matth. 13. 47. &c. many hypocrites and reprobates are gathered into the outward societie of the Church by preaching , and so are let alone like weedes vntill the day of haruest , Matth. 13. 30. Thus as our calling is to be fishers , so our Net is preaching .