the way. (Prov. xr. 19 ; xxii. 13.) Wkere we are and as we are^ in season or out of season^ by one means or by another, by tongue or by pen, by speaking or by writing, let ns strire to be ever working for God. But let us never stand still.
We should observe, secondly, in 'this passage, tphat €neour<igement our Lord gives to unqtiestioning obedience. We are told, that after preaching He bade Simon "launch out into the deep and let down his net for a draught.'' He receives an answer which exhibits in a striking manner the mind of a good servant. " Master," says Simon, "we have toiled all the night and have taken nothing : nevertheless, at thy word I will let down the net.'' And what was the reward of this ready compli- ance with the Lord's commands P At once, we are told, " they enclosed a great multitude of fishes : and their net brake."
We need not doubt that a practical lesson for all Christians is contained under these simple circumstances. We are meant to learn the blessing of ready unhesitat- ing obedience to every plain command of Christ. The path of duty may sometimes be hard and disagreeable. The wisdom of the course we propose to follow may not be apparent to the world. But none of these things must move us. We are not to confer with flesh and blood. We are to go straight forward when Jesus says, " go ; " and do a thing boldly, tmflinchingly, and decidedly, when Jesus says, " do it." We are to walk by faith and not by sight, and believe that what we see not now to be right and reasonable, we shall see hereafter. So acting, we shall never find in the long run that we are losers.