the net of the word of God. The wonderful complexity of natures in Christ, with their knots and difficulties, His gradual broadening out from a helpless babe to full Messiaship, His perforated body on the cross, and His reaching at His death from the highest heaven to the lowest hell, all proclaim that the Word made flesh is both the fisherman and the net whereby men's souls are gathered into the peaceful waters of God's heavenly preserves. Or, if you will, the preached and written word of God is the net, its doctrines the cords, slender but enduring, and bound indissolubly together as with knots by mysteries and miracles and divine commands; a net seemingly small at first, but when investigated and unfolded found large enough to encompass man's entire moral and intellectual world, reaching heaven with its promises and fathoming hell with its threats. Be the draught ever so great, the bark of Peter will not sink, nor will the net give way; " for," says the Lord, " though heaven and earth shall pass away, My words shall not pass away."
Brethren, when, as is related to-day, the miraculous draught of fish was hauled aboard, Peter in amazement flung himself at the Saviour's feet and cried: " Depart from me, O Lord, for I am a sinful man." If the priesthood has its trials, it also has its consolations. The night of fruitless toil may be long and wearisome, but God will take account of and reward the labor regardless of results. Through many tribulations one enters the kingdom of heaven, and especially so the priest, but if through all discourage-
