AN ANGLER, A HUNTER, AND A FALCONER 



themselves to suffer for that Saviour whom their fore-fathers 

 and they had crucified ; and, in their sufferings, to preach free- 

 dom from the incumbrances of the law, and a new way to 

 everlasting life. This was the employment of these happy 

 fishermen, concerning which choice, some have made these 

 observations. 



First, That he never reproved these for their employment 

 or calling, as he did Scribes and the Money-changers. And 

 secondly, he found that the hearts of such men by nature were 

 fitted for contemplation and quietness ; men of mild, and sweet, 

 and peaceable spirits, as indeed most Anglers are: these men, 

 our blessed Saviour, who is observed to love to plant grace in 

 good natures, though indeed nothing be too hard for him, yet 

 these men he chose to call from their irreprovable employment 

 of fishing, and gave them grace to be his disciples, and to 

 follow him and do wonders ; I say four of twelve. 



And it is observable, that it was our Saviour's will, that 

 these our four Fishermen should have a priority of nomination 

 in the catalogue of his Twelve Apostles, Mat. x. 2-4. Acts i. I, 3., 

 as namely, first, St. Peter, St. Andrew, St. James, and St. John, 

 and then the rest in their order. 



And it is yet more observable, that when our blessed 

 Saviour went up into the mount, when he left the rest of his 

 disciples and chose only three to bear him company at his 

 Transfiguration, that those three were all Fishermen. And 

 it is to be believed, that all the other Apostles, after they 

 betook themselves to follow Christ, betook themselves to be 

 Fishermen too ; for it is certain, that the greater number of 

 them were found together fishing by Jesus after his Resur- 

 rection, as it is recorded in the 2ist chapter of St. John's 

 Gospel, v. 3, 4. 



And since I have your promise to hear me with patience, 

 I will take a liberty to look back upon an observation that 

 hath been made by an ingenuous and learned man, who observes, 

 that God hath been pleased to allow those, whom he himself 

 hath appointed to write his holy will in Holy Writ, yet, to 

 express his will in such metaphors as their former affections or 

 practice had inclined them to ; and he brings Solomon for an 

 example, who before his conversion was remarkably carnally- 



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