Meditation LXXIX.
Meditation LXXIX.
FISHERS.
Gibraltar Mole, May 31, 1759.
Here, on the shore of this vast sea, where innumerable creatures swim, I stand, and am entertained to see the various methods fishers try to entangle the finny tribe; some with the hook and bait suspended on the water; others with the bait sunk quite to the bottom; some use the insignificant earth-worm, and succeed therewith, and what they catch with it they make a bait for larger fish; others use all sorts of nets, and spread the sail, and ply the oar in pursuit of the prey, and thus catch some of all kinds.
The ocean is the world, where all the sons of men swim, every one pursuing his own game; and it holds truer of them than of the scaly family—that though they too often devour one another, yet they have their common enemy, the old serpent, the blood-thirsty dragon. Now, of those whom Satan makes a prey, some are taken with baits of pleasure; others in the snares and nets of temptation—at first as it were, against their will, through the reproofs of a natural conscience, or the effects of a religious education—but in a little while, they are taken captive by him at his will.
Again, how does Satan make use of one man to ensnare another, and draw him to hell! How often does bad company corrupt good character; and companions of fools are destroyed!
Therefore how careful should we be to shun the company of the wicked, for no sooner has Satan made a prey of one soul, than he makes him a bait for others; and whoever this old serpent stings, he instills such a poison into them, that they can do nothing but sting others to death, though they themselves are mortally wounded. This may look strange, because some men, though they have no religion, appear very sober—but attend them a little, and you will find nothing but carnality, deadness, and earthly-mindedness, breathe through all they do and say.
At shore and at sea, fishers are busy to capture their prey—birds from above feed on them, and fishes through the whole deep prey upon one another. But man's condition is still worse, for, though he has enemies behind and before, dangers on every hand, and Satan watching at all points—he is also his own enemy!
But, on the other hand, O that the waters that issue out of the sanctuary would come into the great sea, to heal the waters, where the curse has already come, that everything might live. Let the gospel, that contains this flood of life, spread through the world with healing to every creature; and let men of all ranks and conditions be taken in the net of the gospel. Let the fishers stand all along the banks, and be successful in catching souls, and winning them to Christ, out of every tribe and tongue under heaven.
Back to Meditations 61 to 90