124 SALMON FISHING IN CANADA. 



that the dullest must have entertained a suspicion, if not a 

 conviction, of the presence of the Saviour. 



" But it was the disciple whom Jesus loved for affection 

 is quicksighted who first satisfied himself as to its being 

 the Lord ; and on his telling this to Peter, that impetuous 

 and ardent disciple, threw himself into the sea, that he 

 might hasten to the Master whom he had lately so fiercely 

 denied, but to whom he now longed to give proof of a 

 devotedness increased by the remembrance of his fall, and 

 the graciousness of his forgiveness. The other disciples, 

 acting with less vehemence, but equally desiring to be 

 with their Lord, proceeded towards the land in their ship, 

 dragging with them the net and its ponderous enclosure, 

 and there they found a ' fire of coals, and fish laid thereon 

 and bread.' 



" How came this fire of coals on this lonely shore ? 

 Who kindled it ? Who laid out the provision, the fish and 

 the bread ? If, as we can scarcely doubt, there was something 

 symbolical or significative in what thus met the disciples' 

 view, what are the truths, what the lessons, that were thus 

 figuratively conveyed ? 



" The inspired historian gives nothing but the facts ; but 

 the facts would not have been written, except for our 

 admonition and instruction. Let us therefore avail our- 

 selves of the aid of an acute and eloquent divine * of the 

 present day, while we study them in simple dependence on 



* Melville. 



