THE CONFERENCE. 63 



and by their powerful eloquence to beget faith in the unbe- 

 lieving Jews ; and themselves to suffer for that Saviour 

 whom their forefathers and they had crucified ; and, in their 

 sufferings, to preach freedom from the incumbrances of the 

 law, and a new way to everlasting life : this was the employ- 

 ment 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, Matt. x. 2, Acts i. 13 ; 

 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- 



