SERMON X.

LUKE v. 8.

WHEN SIMON PETER SAW IT, HE FELL DOWN AT JESUS' KNEES, SAYING, DEPART FROM ME, FOR I AM A SINFUL MAN, O LORD.

And

GREAT attention was at this time excited by the miracles and the preaching of our Lord, who had lately commenced his public ministry. "The people pressed upon him to hear the word of God. he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, and saw two ships"-two small fishing vessels-" standing by the lake; but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people out of the ship. Now, when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at

thy word I will let down the net. And, when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes; and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord; for he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken."

Such is the connexion of the text, and such the occasion of the incident which it records. The impression made upon Peter's mind was powerful, and the sentiment which it called forth, remarkable. We will consider,

I. THE SOURCE OF SUCH FEELINGS AS ARE HERE DISPLAYED; and,

II. THE DIRECTION TO BE GIVEN TO THEM.

I. THE SOURCE OF SUCH FEELINGS AS THE TEXT DISPLAYS.

The mind of fallen man is full of inconsistencies and apparent contradictions upon religious subjects. Man is made for religion, and in a certain sense is disposed to religion, (as the constant tendency to superstition shews;) but to true religion—— the spiritual worship of the only true God,-he is

utterly averse. Again, man habitually presumes upon the Divine mercy; yet he has hard thoughts of God, and is prone to tremble at the Divine justice. Still further he is full of self-flattery, and the pride of virtue; yet he cannot but feel a deep sense of imperfection, a lurking consciousness of guilt. And the one or the other of these principles is called into action according to occasions and circumstances. While health is strong, while prosperity smiles, while the world applauds, a man shall feel nothing perhaps but self-complacency, and shall consider the happiness he enjoys as a proof of the approbation of heaven. But let his circumstances alter-let his health decline-let his prosperity forsake him-let the world reproach him: what a reverse shall take place in his feelings. He shall think, perhaps, that God fights against him: perhaps his sins shall now stare him in the face; and his presumption of the Divine favour, shall give way to forebodings of vengeance: and all this, when no important change has taken place in his character -the only change which could really affect his situation, with reference to the Divine favour or displeasure. Of this we have an instance in the case of the woman who had entertained the prophet Elijah; whose conduct was pleasing to God, and who had many proofs of the Divine

approbation; when her son fell sick and died, she turned to Elijah and said, "What have I to do with thee, thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sins to remembrance, and to slay my son?"

But we have several instances in Scripture,-not indeed of an entire change of men's views concerning themselves, but yet of very strong impressions of sinfulness and unworthiness made upon their minds ;-not by any great reverses in providence, not by anything which could bespeak the displeasure of heaven, but by what might more reasonably be viewed in a contrary light, and considered as high honours, signal favours conferred upon them by God.

Such was the case of the text. Christ wrought a wonderful miracle in favour of Simon Peter and his companions. And what was the effect produced upon Peter's mind by the extraordinary fact? "When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, and said, Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." We are surprised at the effect: yet, when we consider it, it is not at all unnatural. The case is not solitary: we have others resembling it. God manifested his glory in an extraordinary manner to Job-a man previously distinguished for piety and holiness and what was the consequence ? "Then Job answered the

Lord and said, Behold I am vile: what shall I answer thee? I will lay my hand upon my mouth. Once have I spoken, but I will not answer: yea, twice, but I will proceed no further. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth thee: wherefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes."

With these instances before you, you will readily call to mind another;-that of the holy prophet Isaiah. He was favoured with a glorious vision of the divine majesty. The account is given in the sixth chapter of his prophecies. "In the

year that king Uzziah died, I saw also the Lord, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the Seraphim: each one had six wings with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! I am undone! for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts."

Now the impressions here made are in all the three cases similar: they are deep impressions of