The rest were only needing such an invitation. The whole
charm and zest of the old life rushes back upon them, each takes his own
accustomed place in the boat, each hand finds itself once more at home
at the long-suspended task, and with an ease that surprises themselves
they fall back into the old routine.

And as we watch their six oars flashing in the setting sun, and Peter
steering them to the familiar fishing ground, we cannot but reflect in
how precarious a position the whole future of the world is. That boat
carries the earthly hope of the Church; and as we weigh the feelings of
the men that are in it, what we see chiefly is, how easily the whole of
Christianity might here have broken short off, and never have been heard
of, supposing it to have depended for its propagation solely on the
disciples. Here they were, not knowing what had become of Jesus, without
any plan for preserving His name among men, open to any impulse or
influence, unable to resist the smell of the fishing boats and the
freshness of the evening breeze, and submitting themselves to be guided
by such influences as these, content apparently to fall back into their
old ways and obscure village life, as if the last three years were a
dream, or were like a voyage to foreign parts, which they might think of
afterwards, but were not to repeat. All the facts they were to use for
the conversion of the world were already in their possession; the death
of Christ and His resurrection were not a fortnight old; but as yet they
had no inward impulse to proclaim the truth; there was no Holy Ghost
powerfully impelling and possessing them; they were not endued with
power from on high. One thing only they seemed to be decided and agreed
about--that they must live; and therefore they go a-fishing.

But apparently they were not destined to find even this so easy as they
expected. There was One watching that boat, following it through the
night as they tried place after place, and He was resolved that they
should not be filled with false ideas about the satisfactoriness of
their old calling. All night they toiled, but caught nothing. Every old
device was tried; the fancies of each particular kind of fish were
humoured, but in vain. Each time the net was drawn up, every hand knew
before it appeared that it was empty. Weary with the fruitless toil, and
when the best part of the night was gone, they made for a secluded part
of the shore, not wishing to land from thei