Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-02-08

and perhaps abode in the house OF
Peter. The power of His preaching
drew crowds, which pressed upon Him
as He was walking along the white
beach which forms the margin of Lake
Genesaret. "To hear" There was
a good prospect for a glorious revival
of religion There We're times in the
life of our Lord when thousands were
anxious to hear Him. for the
common people heard Him gladly.
Lake of Gennesaret." The most sa-
cred sheet of water which this earth
contains. Called also the Sea of Cali
lee. 1t Is clear lake about twelve
miles long and five broad, with the
Jordan River flowing through it. This
was the region of the early labors of
our Lord.
2. 1.-TWO ships" Fishing boats.
They must have been small. This is
clear from the accounts given Of them.
A few men could handle one, and
single large draught of fishes endan-
gered them. Standing by" Anchored,
or drawn up upon the beach. "The
fishermen" Peter Andrew, James and
John. washing their nets" They
had spent the night in fruitless effort,
md now they We're cleaning the filth
of the sea from the threads of the nets
and mending any defective or broken
parts. 1t is interesting to notice how
often Christ appeared to men while
they were busy with their temporal
affairs. 8. zone of the ships" The
ship of James and John appeared to be
at some distance away; this one be-
longed to Simon Peter and to his broth
er Andrew See Mark ZIG. Prayed
him." Asked him. Jesus in a familiar
manner takes possession of Peters
boat and makes it His pulpit.
II. The draught of fishes Tvs. 40.
4. launch out" Christ forgot His
own WEAKNESS and only seemed to re-
member the disappointment of His fol-
lowers in toilng all night in vain. This
verse has often been used to illustrate
the fact that Christ would have us
leave the shore of selfshness, worldli-
ness and sin and launch out into the
depth of His love and fulncsS. "For Il
draught." Let down your nets for the
taking of fish. 5. MASTER This is
the first time that the word here trans
lated master is used in tho New TcSta-
Il'Dt, anu IL IL tNtl plIli ~ l4'N'' nv
other evangeliSts called Him Rabbi or
Lord. This is not the word usually
rendered master but is n title Of re-
spect Note how Familiarity Peter adj
dresses Jesus. "Tolled all the night"
Peter thus shows how unlikely it was
that they would catch anything. The
night was the best time for catching
certain kinds of fish ana if they had
caught nothing then they could not
expect to catch any in the daytime.
This is 10 doubt reported by Luke to
cause the miracle to appear all the
more striking. at Thy word" No
doubt Peter was weary and somewhat
discouraged. but hr had faith enough
in Christ to lead him to 20 at the d.
rection of his divine Master. C. Their
net brake" "Their nets Were break
ing" II. Y. There was such n multi
!udc of fishes that a snap in some weak
part of the net warned them that they
must have assistance or lose the entire
"catch." The miracle was an acted
parable, of which the significance is
explained in Matthew 13:i7.
7. "Beckoncd." Made signals Tho
distance evidently being too great for
the voice to reach. They came"
James and John with their shin. Be
gan to sink" The boats would hardly
hold as much as the nets.
III. The disciples aStOniShod Tvs. s.
D.. 9. "SimOn Peter" His full name
is here given. for this is the turning
point in his life. Simon is destined to
become Peter, rock. "'Peter' eX-
presses the possibilities Jesus saw in
the nature of Simon" saw" 1t seems
that it was not til! Peter saw the boats
beginning to sink that he realized the
greatness of the miracle. Fell down"
The common posture of a suppliant In
he fell at the feet of Jesus
trembling and afraid. depart from
me-" Peters feelings We're not I'M
natural, but We're an involuntary, sud
den request, and arose from ignorance
of the chara ctcr of Jesus. We are not
worthy to be with Him, but He came to
seek the lost and to save the impure.
The exclamation Of Peter was wrung
from heart touched with a sense of
humility, and his words did not eX-
press his thoughts. "A sinful man"
Peter saw himself a very sinful crca-
ture. When we get near Christ we
shall see that in our unregenerate state
we are without moral beauty or holi-
ness. Q. WAS astonished." "Was
Humanity stands amazed"
before the power Of God.
". Forsaking all for Christ Tvs. 10,
IL. 10. "Sons of Zebedee." The chill
dren and wife of Zebedee are often re-
ferred to, but in this transaction only
do we meet with Zebedee himself
Matt. 4.2D. "Fear not" He Gained
their fears and stilled all their troubled
feelings. "From henceforth." Here
after. Catch men," Literally, thou
shalt be catching alive.
II. "Ships to land" They drew
them up on the beach for a final aban-
donment. "Forsook ALL" Although it
was not much which they had to leave.
yet it was all they had. even al! their
living. The sacrifice was a willing one
and showed their love for Christ ard a
readiness to obey Him. Followed
Him" They returned again to their
occupation as fishermen after the cruel
fixion, and We're again called to aban-
don it and devote themselves by
second miraculous draught of fishes
and by the direct precept Of Jesus.
Families in Alliance.
There is living at Corsham Wilt
shire, England, an old lady named
Mrs. Maynard, ycrging on her hun
dredth year, who was many years ago
one of the chief figures in a curious
marriage story. She was the wife Of
the village grocer, and had ten chill
dren. In the neiGhboring village Of
Bletchingley gentleman farmer,
King by name, had eleven sons and
daughters. The young Kings met the
young Maynards. They were mutu-
ally attracted by each others charms,