And yet there was something still.wanting for the assurance of many-a further manifestation, which it was perhaps not unreasonable to require, as it was not thought unfitting that it should be given a mark of perfect identity, which if not missed at first, in the sudden tumult of joy, might yet, if altogether omitted, have proved the occasion of doubt, when he proceeded afterwards to give them their commission, and to invest them with heavenly powers, such as none but God tabernacled in the flesh could have authority to give. He had yet performed no miracle. He had proved his identity with the man Jesus, and having familiarized their minds with this truth, he now-preparatory to the meeting which he had appointed for the whole body of his witnesses on a mountain in Galilee-he now, at the sea of Tiberias, exhibits marks of his identity as God in Christ-as the Immanuel.

Nor let it be said that the apostles needed not all the laboured gradation of discovery. If Thomas, in the warmth of surprise and strong feeling, anticipated the full display of Christ risen, by hailing him as his God as well as his Master, that conviction might have needed afterwards

some deeper root; and if not in Thomas's case, certainly in the case of some. For, notwithstanding the assurance given at the sea of Tiberias, it was at the meeting which followed on the mountain in Galilee, that "some of the persons present doubted."

As to the character of the miraculous display, exhibited at the sea of Tiberias for the purpose now suggested, it was such as was exactly calculated to attain this end. Our Lord's divine nature had been attested by two kinds of superhuman agency—by miracle and by prophecy. In this interview at the sea of Tiberias, he once again displayed both. He caused a miraculous draught of fishes, and he predicted the fate of Peter and John. More both the miracle and prophecy, or rather one of the prophecies, were so contrived, as to be recognized by the peculiar features which were known to belong only to the miracles and prophecies of Christ. The miracle was symbolical, and its symbolical character readily intelligible by its connection with his many figurative lessons delivered before his death. This was characteristic of Christ's miracles, and of his alone. One of the prophecies-that respecting

John-was, in like manner, at once a test and evidence, and also a warning against error; a prophecy, in short, applied to purposes beyond its prophetical use; and in this respect unlike all prophecies but those of Christ.

To be more explicit. No one who remembers Christ's first call of two of the apostles, and his accompanying hint, "I will make you fishers of men," as well as the other allusions and metaphors by which this hint was followed up in Christ's subsequent instructions, can doubt that the miraculous draught of fishes, caused by his presence, after these appointed "fishers of men" had toiled all night in vain, was intended to remind them of those previous metaphorical lessons; perhaps to suggest, as a finish to the series of instruction, that, although hitherto their labours had been, comparatively speaking, unavailing, yet, when he came to them according to his promise, the net which they should cast for the souls of men would be even too small for the multitude which should be ready to be taken'.

1

Compare too the parable of the net cast into the sea, one of the lessons by which the apostles were familiarized to the

And when was he to come? This we know was a point about which doubt, even during the apostolic age, was entertained; nor has the Christian world yet ceased to doubt and differ respecting the fulfilment of the declaration. Jesus was then come from the grave, and was bodily amongst them. Although on the cross he had complained that God had forsaken him, and might therefore, without the renewal of his peculiar miracles, have been mistaken for the mere man Jesus, bereft of the indwelling and fulness of the Godhead, yet his perfect identity was now proved. The ChristGod in Christ-was as before manifested, and the manifestation identified by the renewal of his former agency; by a miracle like his former miracles; and by a prophecy no less distinguished as his own. Was he now come? Against this misapprehension his prophecy concerning St. John expressly guarded. He says of him pointedly, "If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?" certainly implying that he had not yet come, in the sense in which he had so often and so emphatically promised to come. It may be

use of images drawn from a fisher's employment for the purpose of conveying Gospel instruction.

added, that the same prophecy was a safeguard also against another error respecting Christ's coming; namely, that it meant his final coming to judge the world. For, at John's death, those who did labour under such a mistake, would naturally revert to another and a true interpretation.

One remark must not be omitted respecting Peter's conduct on this occasion. He alone proceeded to Jesus on the water", whilst the others went in a boat. This was doubtless a display of that improved faith, for want of which, on a former trial, he had begun to sink on that very lake. Having so lately been on the brink of ruin, and having thrice denied his Master, it is natural that this opportunity of shewing his faith should have been given, and eagerly embraced.

"cast

The original, ἔβαλεν ἑαυτὸν εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν, admits of being rendered either, according to our Bible translation, himself into the sea," or 66 cast himself upon the sea." I have adopted the latter as, on the whole, the more probable meaning.