calls to repentance, promises pardon and offers grace to help in time of need.

The

There is an accepted time-there is a day of salvation. salvation offered was purchased by the blood of Christ. It is promised by the faithfulness of God. It is proclaimed in your hearing by a voice speaking from heaven. You may obtain it by a seasonable and diligent application. But how will you escape, if you neglect so great salvation, which began to be spoken by the Lord himself and was confirmed by them who heard.

If you finally neglect this salvation, which is proclaimed in such encouraging sounds, you will sink into regions of darkness and despair, where these delightful sounds will be reverberated in dismal echoes.

It will be no small part of the misery of condemned sinners, that they neglected the day of grace-despised a dying Saviourtrampled on the warnings of God's word, and resisted the energies of a striving spirit.

If the dreadful sound now in your ears, makes no impression on your hearts, nor calls their attention to the offers of deliverance and safety; they must one day hear a sound more dreadful from the final sentence of the Judge-Depart, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.

Know in this your day the things which belong to your peace, before they are hidden from your eyes.

27

SERMON XXI.

REFLECTIONS ON THE CHARACTER OF PETER

JOHN XXI. 7, 8.

Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved, saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked) and did cast himself into the sea. And the other disciples came in a little ship (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits) dragging the net with fishes.

OUR blessed Lord, after his resurrection, seems not to have been constantly with his disciples, as he was before his crucifixion; for they were now dispersed to follow their several occupations, only meeting at proper times for friendly conversation and social devotion. But he visited them occasionally to give them evidence of his resurrection, and to impart to them such instructions, as their present circumstances and future employments might require. These visits were made sometimes to two or three of them, and sometimes to a greater number, when they happened to be together.

John, in this chapter, relates the appearance of Jesus to seven of his disciples at the sea of Tiberias. He says, "This is the

third time, that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead." He means, that this was the third time of his shewing himself to them in a body; for the evangelists mention five or six other times before this, when he shewed himself to some, or all of them.

Seven of the disciples being now together in a house near the sea of Tiberias, Peter proposed to his brethren to go a fishing; to which they agreed, and immediately took a boat, went out with a net on the water, and labored through the following night without success. In the morning Jesus came and stood on the shore. They saw a person, but knew not who he was. It is probable that day-light was not yet perfect. He might appear in a dress, in which they had not been accustomed to see him. They had no expectation of meeting with him at this time and in this place. It therefore is not strange, that they did not immediately recognize him. Probably they supposed him to be some man, who came to buy fish of them. They were within call from the shore. The stranger asked them if they had any meat. They answered, that they had none, for they had caught nothing through the night. He directed them to cast their net on the right side of the ship, which they did, and caught such a number of fishes, that they were hardly able to draw the net toward the shore.

John, who is here and elsewhere called the disciple whom Jesus loved, astonished at this wonderful draught of fishes, thought of Jesus, and looking more attentively, as it grew lighter, perceived that it was certainly He. And he said to Peter, It is the Lord. Peter, hearing that it was the Lord, was in haste to be with him; and impatient to wait the slow progress of the boat, put on the loose garment which he had thrown off for labor, stept into the sea and waded to the shore. The water so near the shore was shallow enough for a man to wade. Had he intended to swim, he would not have put on his outward garment. He hastened to land, and left his brethren to drag along the rich booty, which they had taken.

We will make some remarks on John's information to Peter; and on Peter's behavior in consequence of it.

John says, It is the Lord.

This is an expression of surprize, and of joy.

It is an expression of surprize. The personal presence of Christ, at this time, was wholly unexpected.

He had before appeared to his disciples, once and again, when they were met together for devotion; but now they were on the lake employed in a secular calling. Their minds were occupied in their labor, and exercised with their ill success. An interview with their Lord was little thought of. His appearance so near them, and his advice so friendly and seasonable in their business, was matter of surprize.

Pious souls may enjoy the presence of Christ in their secular occupations, as well as in their sacred devotions. No real duty will separate between him and them. It was the duty of these disciples to attend to their secular employment at proper times, no less than to engage in devotional exercises at other times. And when they were in the place, and at the work, to which providence called them, they might enjoy communication with their Lord, whether the place were an oratory, or a fishing boat, and whether the work were mental, or manual.

God requires us to spend a portion of time in his worship. There are certain seasons sequestered for social worship. These we must statedly observe without unnecessary omissions. We are required to pay our morning and evening sacrifices in our families and closets. These stated religious exercises are adapted to form in our minds an habitual reverence of God and constant sense of his presence. That our devotions, whether secret, or social, may be useful to ourselves and acceptable to God, we are to banish from our minds all inordinate worldly affections, and all malevolent and unfriendly passions, and to come before God with reverence toward him, and with good will toward all men ; we are to engage our hearts to seek unto him and to attend upon him without distraction. The reason why we are to perform devotional duties with a pious and benevolent spirit, is that we may carry this spirit with us into all the duties of common life. Every one sees, that it would be absurd only to make our prayers with reverence to God and benevolence to men; and then imme

diately to return to the world with impiety and malice in our hearts. We are to be devout, humble and charitable, when we stand before God, that we may be the same at all times, and that, whatever we do, we may do all to his glory.

These disciples, having been conversant with Christ, and having imbibed much of his spirit, were prepared to receive a visit from him, when they were fishing, as well as when they were praying. Let us so conduct the devotional parts of religion, as to maintain the temper of religion in all that we do. Then our secular labors, as well as our devout exercises, will be works of piety and charity; all that we do will belong to religion; and wherever we go, we shall be near to Christ; he will be attentive to our calls, and will communicate his grace as our necessities require.

The words of John, It is the Lord, expressed his joy. And his joy was the joy of them all.

John was the disciple whom Jesus loved, and who was distinguished by his love to Jesus. None of them could be more transported, than he was, at seeing the risen Lord.

We naturally rejoice in meeting with a beloved friend after a temporary absence. Jesus had not been long absent from his disciples; but the cause of his absence had been such as must prepare their minds for the most lively sensations at his return. He had been slain and laid in the grave. They little thought of meeting him again on earth. Sorrow had filled their hearts. When they saw him risen from the dead, they believed not for joy. They were as men who dream. So happy and unexpected was the event, that they could hardly believe their own eyes.

In meeting with him, there were many circumstances to increase their joy. This was not a common friend, but a Saviour and Redeemer. They could not see him too often, nor be too much in his company. His resurrection confirmed their faith in him, and established their belief of all that he had before taught them. It opened to their understanding the ancient prophesies. It brought many pleasing interviews and instructions afresh to their remembrance. It revived past delightful scenes. While they felt themselves too unfurnished to go forth and preach his