132 SALMOI^ FISHING IN CANADA. 



into the Cliiirch through the instrumentality of the 

 preachers of the Grospel. It is observable also that Simon 

 Peter is said to have drawn the net to land : there may 

 have been a reference here to the fact that in reward of 

 his noble confession of Christ, Peter was intrusted with the 

 opening the Clim'ch to the Gentiles; he it was, who, 

 instructed by a vision from Grod, admitted by baptism 

 Cornelius and his friends to the privileges of Cliristianity. 

 For there can be no doubt, that in this second miraculous 

 draught of fishes, there was a special reference to the 

 combining of all nations in the visible Church. The 

 number of fishes is to be carefully noted ; ' an hundred and 

 fifty and three ; ' and so also is the remark of the evangelist, 

 ' And for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.' 

 As to the number, it appears that one hundred and fifty 

 and three was exactly the number of kinds or varieties of 

 fish then known; so that we may most justly conclude 

 that the number was an indication that persons of all 

 nations and conditions should enter into the Chiux-h. And 

 then the remark as to the net not being broken, though 

 it enclosed so many fish, must be considered as prophetic 

 of the capacity of the Christian Church ; unlike the Jewish, 

 whicli was not constructed for enlargement and extension, 

 the Christian Church might embrace the ends of the earth 

 and not be overcharged, whatever the multitude and 

 variety of converts. So far there is little difiiculty in 

 assigning the parabolic character of the narrative before 



