The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 76

says Dr. Thomson in 'The Land and the Book,' "can be more interestin"'? A quiet, ramble along the head of this sacred sea I 'l'he blessed feet of Emmanuel h~vo hallowed every acre, and the eye of Divine love has gazed a thousand times upon this fair expanse o( lake and land. Oh I it is surpassingly beautiful at this evening hour. 'l'hose western h1l~s stretch their lengthening shadows over it, as loving mothers drop the gauzy curtams round the cradle of their sleeping babes. Cold must be the heart that throbs not with unwonted emotion. Son of God and Saviour of the world I with thee ~:Y thankful spirit seeks communion here on the threshold of thine earthly home." Still more beautiful and touching are the verses of the sainted McCheyne on the sea of Galilee, of which, though so well known, we venture to cite the three following~- " How pleasant to me thy deep blue wave, 0 See. of Ge.lilee I For the glorious One who co.me to save liath often stood by thee. •Graceful around thee the mountains meet, Thou calm reposing see.; But ah, far more I the beautiful fee\ Of Jesus walked o'er thee. ,. 0 Saviour I gone to God's right hand I Yet the same Saviour still, Graved on thy bee.rt is this lovely strand And every fragrant hill." v. MilTh"'ER OF THEIR WORK AND ACTUAL ENGAGEMENT WHEN CALLED, Simon and .Andrew were actually engaged in :fishing when the Master called them; James and John were mending, or rather preparing (,caTapTl(on,is), their nets. Here we are taught the right use and proper economy of time. When not actually engaged in the labours of our calling we may do much in preparing for it, either taking necessary rest and refreshment for our bodies, and so acquiring vigour by repose, or in getting our appa- ratus or equipments of whatever kind in readiness for the resumption of laboui:. IJijferent kinds of nets. Three kinds of nets were used by the Galilean :fishermen. There was the lil1C"TV011, the most general name for any kind of net, and derived from li/,.,.,, I cast, a word akin to li/cr,cos, a quoit. It is sometimes nsed figuratively in the LXX., as ra-yls is in the Pauline Epistle in the New Testament. Nets of this sort John and James were repairing when they were summoned by the Saviour. There was the a.µ.q,ifJl\.11crrp011, from aµ.q,l, around, and fJaN\.rf,, I cast-the casting-net &preading out in a circle when cast into the water, and sinking by weights attached. From its circular shape it enclosed whatever lay below it. There was also the cra-rfi"'I, from adTT111, creua-ya., I load, which was a sweep-net of wide reach, and included a wide extent of sea. Hence it is used, according to Trench, in a parable, "wherein our Lord is setting forth the wide reach and all-embracing character of his future kiugdom," and where neither of the other two words would have suited as well or at all. VI. READY Alm UNRESERVED co1>1rLIANCE. No sooner had our Lord said," Hither, 11fter me," as the original words literally mean, than these four brethren, James and John, as well as Simon and Andrew, at once obeyed the summons. St. Mark's words here are very expressive-they went away or off behind him-and imply the complete- ness with which they separated themselves from previous connections and severed themselves from past pursuits, as also the entire devotion with which they joined their new Master and commenced their new calling. They do not seem to have entered into any worldly calculations as to their present maintenance or future prospects, or to have counted the cost of the sacrifice they were called to make; neither did they consult with flesh and blood, or take into account consiclerations such as carnal policy is apt to suggest. They left all at once and for ever. What if their boats and nets were comparatively of small value or little worth in the estimate of the rich? SLill to these fishermen the sacrifice was great, for it involved their worldly all. VIL THE GOODNESS OF THE MASTER. Hardly, if ever, does Christ give us a precept that he does not add a promise to encourage us to, and help us in, the performance. If be bids us come to him, however weary and worn, sad and suffering and sorrowful we OD. I. 1-46.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. 73