down your net?" there is a gracious design to exert his mighty power, accompanying the very injunction.
4. We should let down the net at Christ's bidding, because, whenever faithful efforts are put forth to promote the cause of Christ, in obedience to him, and with humble reliance upon his grace, such efforts are invariably accompanied with a divine blessing. No effort thus made has ever failed. Read the history of the church; when were the people of God ever found wakeful and devoted and prayerful, and the Lord still hiding his face from them, and forsaking them? Never! never! When did any man seek God honestly, and fail to obtain a blessing? Never! When did the people of God do it collectively? Never, brethren, never! We challenge all the sagacity of the bottomless pit to point to an instance of such a failure.
1. From this subject we see how great the responsibility of the people of God! Are they assured that if an effort is made faithfully and prayerfully, God will pour out a blessing, and will they refuse to obey his commandment? Apply the subject to our own case-does Christ say, "Launch out into the deep and cast your nets?" May we rest assured that this will not be in vain, if done in obedience to Christ? Shall we refuse, and say the time is not come? or, we are unprepared, we want to attend more to our secular concerns? &c.
2. We see where Zion's strength lies; it is in rendering obedience to Christ, and thus securing the cooperation of his power. "We can do all things," says the apostle, "through Christ strengthening us."
