called to instruct fishermen ; to whose more imme- diate use he adapted the parable before us.
In order to elucidate the text we observe that,
I. A great variety of persons are gathered by the
Gospel into the visible Church —
The Gospel is preached promiscuously to all —
[When a net is cast into the sea, the fisherman knows not what success he shall have : he may toil all the night and catch nothing- ; or may inclose a number that can with difficulty be drawn to shore ^. However skilful he may be in his trade, he is dependent wholly on the good providence of God.
Thus the Gospel is published to all without any respect of persons. Nor can the preachers of it command success: if Paul or Apollos labour, it is God alone that can render their endeavovirs effectual to the salvation of men''.]
There are however many, for the most part, brought by means of it to a profession of religion —
[Where nothing but morality is preached, the people all remain stupid and unconcerned about their souls : but where Christ is truly exalted, some will feel the constraining influence of the word'', and be drawn out of the vain world to an attend- ance on the duties of religion. But of these there will be various kinds : some will go no further than the mere form of godliness'^; others will seem to enjoy somewhat of its life and power, while in reality they have no stability in the ways of God'', or, though they persevere in their profession of religion,
they do not walk worthy of their high calling^ There
will be others, however, who are truly upright before God, and who " adorn the Gospel of God our Saviour in all things."
All these persons will be collected into a visible Church ; all will profess an attachment to the Gospel: and all will feel some kind of confidence respecting their final acceptance before God.]
But,
II. Of those that are so gathered, there will be an
awful separation in the day of judgment —
Fishermen will not encumber themselves with fishes that are worthless ; nor will God receive to himself all that are gathered by the Gospel.
There will be a separation made in the day of judgment —
'■> Luke V. 5, 6. '• 1 Cor. iii. 7. " Jer. xxiii. 22.
<i 2 Tim. iii. 5. ^ vcr. 20, 21. f ver. 22.