62 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



known by divers, both of wisdom and experience, to been 

 truth ; and indeed are, as I said at the beginning, fit for the 

 contemplation of a most serious and a most pious man. And, 

 doubtless, this made the prophet David say, " They that occupy 

 themselves in deep waters see the wonderful works of God : " 

 indeed, such wonders and pleasures, too, as the land affords 

 not. And that they be fit for the contemplation of the most 

 prudent, and pious, and peaceable men, seems to be testified by 

 the practice of so many devout and contemplative men as the 

 patriarchs and prophets of old, and of the apostles of our Saviour 

 in our latter times, of which twelve we are sure he chose four 

 that were simple fishermen, whom he inspired, and sent to 

 publish his blessed will to the Gentiles, and inspired them also 

 with a power to speak all languages, and by their powerful 

 eloquence to beget faith in the unbelieving Jews, and themselves 

 to suffer for that Saviour whom their forefathers and they had 

 crucified, and, in their sufferings, to preach freedom from the 

 encumbrances 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 the 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 irreproveable 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.) : as namely, 

 first, Saint Peter, Saint Andrew, Saint James, and Saint 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 resurrection, as it is recorded 

 in the 21st chapter of Saint John's Gospel. 



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

 will take the liberty to look back upon an observation that hath 

 been made by an ingenious and learned man, who observes, 



