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where two skiffs, such as belong to the fishermen, are moored to the pebble banks. In one of these is seated a person who is addressing the people congregated on the shore, on a subject apparently of deep interest, for they have drawn as near to the boat as the water will admit; their expression is that of fixed attention; as if they were treasuring up every word as it fell from the speaker's lips. At a little distance the fishermen, to whom the boats belong, are washing their nets, after a night of toil. The teacher who has been addressing the people from the boat, is the Lord Jesus. Among the fishermen we recognize Simon and Andrew his brother, and his partners John and James, the sons of Zebedee.

Our Lord, who had just done speaking as we drew near, desires Simon to launch out into a deeper part of the lake, and let down the nets for a draught: Simon, while he conceives that this will be lost labour, as he and his companions had been fishing all night, and had taken nothing, nevertheless adds, "at thy word I will let down the net." They do this, and it becomes obvious that the net is loaded, which the fishermen discover is owing to the enclosure of a great multitude of fishes, so that their net breaks, and they beckon to their partners who are in the other vessel, that they may come and help them; and they coming, fill both the boats, so that they begin to sink.

Wonder seizes upon all present, at this unexpected exhibition of divine power, and Simon, feeling his own vileness and unfitness to stand in the presence of the Lord, feeling, like the prophet, that he was undone, for, being a man of unclean lips, his eyes had seen the King, the Lord of Hosts,

falls down at Jesus's knees, saying, " Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord."

But surely such a wish ought not to have been suggested by an act of so much goodness as well as might. Our Lord, who had been preaching the gospel of the kingdom to all who are willing to listen, while he has proved his divine mission to the multitude, has, at the same time, abundantly provided for the wants of his followers.

Goodness is so blended with power as to inspire love as well as fear. 'Lord! thou hast proved that thou art every where present, the fishes of the deep, as well as the cattle on a thousand hills, are under thy command; a sense of thy presence is my only protection against the busy promptings of my evil heart, therefore I pray that thou wilt never leave me nor forsake me. I will not say, Depart from me, but, Abide with me, O Lord, cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me.'

Does our Lord rebuke the rashness of the awestricken Simon? Nay, not so. On the contrary, he gives a fresh token of his benignity. He sees that although Simon had spoken unadvisedly, as might be expected from one who was uninstructed, yet that he spake in humility. Wherefore, our Lord graciously removes his fears, in giving him to know that he is appointed to preach the gospel; to let down the gospel net, and to enclose in it, the souls of men, and that his success, in this, his destined vocation, is shadowed forth by the multitude of fishes, which have been just taken, in a net let down by divine command.

The Lord Jesus addresses himself to Andrew, and

to the sons of Zebedee, as well as to Simon, and with such power that they all willingly forsake, not only their employment, at a moment of unexampled success, but every worldly interest, and devote themselves to the service of God.

W. V. H.

We give, as an awful instance of the false, and daringly presumptuous doctrine of human merit, and salvation not of faith but of works, the following

INSCRIPTION

On a stone in front of the South Roman Catholic Chapel, City of Cork.

Sacred to the memory of

The benevolent EDWARD MOLLOY, Esq. The father of humanity, and friend of the poor.

HE EMPLOYED THE WEALTH OF THIS WORLD IN SECURING THE RICHES OF THE NEXT; AND HAVING LEFT A BALANCE OF MERIT UPON THE BOOK OF LIFE, BROUGHT IN HEAVEN DEBTOR TO MERCY!!!

Romans x. 3.

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ANOTHER Season of probation past,
Another day of wrath is hast'ning on,

When this polluted world, which long has groan'd
Beneath a weight of crime more vast, more dire
Than mortal computation can disclose,

Shall bear the vengeance of consuming fire-
Consuming or refining? Guide divine,
Spirit of Truth! instruct my erring mind
To trace the mysteries in thy word revealed ;-
Is this fair world, fair, tho' by sin defaced,
Partaker of Redemption's purchased boon?—
Did He, our 'kinsman,' when for us he paid
Th' uncounted ransom, in that act of love
Our forfeited inheritance redeem ?-
And shall this globe we tread, tho' now it bear
The fearful marks of that primeval curse
To man's transgression due, at length become
Meet residence for Him, the "King of saints,"
To reign with all the trophies of his grace?
Spirit of truth!-'tis thine thro' truth to show.

Prophetic seers, to sacred strains inspir'd
Of that dread day have sung, when ev'ry eye
In rapturous ecstacy, or deep dismay,
Shall gaze upon a bright descending form

In dazzling and resplendent robes arrayed
Of heav'nly majesty, yet bearing still
Tho' thus exalted, lineaments that speak
The

Son of Man," the Brother of our race: And wherefore comes he? as the Judge supreme To execute his Father's just decree

Of fiery vengeance on apostate earth,

To strike with terror, and to blast with death
The rebel foes who spurn'd his gentle sway;
But to receive, acquit, and place secure
Within the arms of his encircling love
The subjects of his grace, the heirs of heav'n.

M-Y.

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