The Yale expositor., 1906-02-09
sSuDD1 EHoO15
egzN IS! $500
LESSON sx--FEBRUARY II.



right TO give orders. I'VE have toiled
all the night, and have taken (took)
nothing" The night was the best time
for fishing, at least for some kinds
of fish. The fact that they had failed
TO catch anything in the best time for
fishing was reason for not expecting
any special results from fishing in the
daytime. Nevertheless at thy word
| will let down the net" This was an
act, not of dependency, but of faith.
6. They inclosed a great multitude
of fishes" mot a miracle of creation,
but at least of knowledge. even if
Christ's will not bring the fish to the
spot. Int. Crit. Com. And their net
brake" Was breaking, i. e., began to
break. was on the point of breaking,
but did not actually break.
z. And they beckoned unto their
partners" James and John ". 10)
There were hired helpers, probably in
both boats mark L. 20). "Filled both
the ships, so that they began to sink. "
This fact increased the impression of
the size of the draught of fishes. II
has its meaning, too, in the applica.
ton of the object lesson.
s. when Simon Peter saw It."
His full name is here given, for this
is the turning point in his life; he
enters now on new career, in which
the new name is better known" Rid.
die. Depart from me-" This eX.
pressed the first impulse of fear and
amazement. before they had mad time
to grow into alteration and love. St
Peter did not mean the depart from
me, he only meant-and this was
known to the Searcher of hearts,
am utterly unworthy to be near thee
yet let me stay '"-FarTar. For ]
am a sinful man" AS Isaiah learned
and confessed the uncleanness of his
lips. when he saw the King. the Lord
of Hosts" so Peter realized his weak.
ness and ignorance by standing in the
presence of such power and knowl
edge; his sinful heart by comparison
with the purity and holiness of Christ
his hesitating unbelief in contrast
as he had shown.
9. For he was astonished." Greek
Amusement encompassed him or
every side. took possession Of him.
Let us Note. Success brings its
own dangers. and there is many boat
that is to say, many a church-toc
leaky to stand an thrush of new con
verts. Such churches. however, are
not likely to have them. -Maclaren
At Gods Command. What they fail
ed TO do alone. at the best time, the
night. and in the best place. near the
shore; that they succeeded in, at the
worst time, daylight, and in the worst
place, in the deep sea, when they
worked i'm accordance with Christ.
command.
Scene III. The Call of the Four
VS.. 10, II. 10. Were partners with
Simon, with whom was Andrew his
brother MARK. The two pairs OF
brothers were intimate all through the
Gospels. Simon, fear not" Peter Is
addressed as more prominent at that
decision; but all four were included, as
we see in the next verse. Hence
forth" From this hour you shall be
gin your career, under the tuition OF
the master, working as his assistant
in training you for your great life
work. Thou shalt catch" Lit, thor
shalt be catching. There is certainly
a reason for the use of this term, as
indicating that Christ's ministers are
called to win men to life.
II. They forsooll all" Matthew
and Mark say this did this straight
way, the straight way being the short
est distance between any two points
There was no indecision. They lef
their nets and boats, their means o.
living, and trusted to the precariou.
livelihood of a poor man. 1t was no
the amount they gave up, but the
spirit in which it was done that show
ed their self-sacrifice.
We forsake all when we give III
everything to Christ-our property
our time-to use as he would have us
we are W give away DO iuuCH do liz
directs; to leave ALL and be mission
aries, If he demands; to suffer the loss
of all, If that is needful, in order that
we may do right; to spend upon oui
families, our business, our pleasure
just as Christ would have us, and In
all things seek to build up the king
dom of our Lord and save men from
sin. And followed him." Not only
as disciples. but henceforth to spend
most of their time following him over
the country. learning his ways. learn
ing how to do his work, inbibing his
spirit. being trained for their future
work
We follow Christ when We initiate
his example. obey his words. walk in
his footsteps toward heaven and God
We need to see our leader clearly, and
to follow him as our leader, with per
sonal love and devotion, living evei
for him and with him.
Mans Blindness of Vision.
How common it is to find that the
remote good is regarded as of com