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LXXXI.

Promife to the Difciples that they hall be Fishers of Men.

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'Racing the Lake, on utmost Verge of Land,
Two fishing Barks, their Crew upon the Sand
Washing their Nets our Saviour did perceive,
But Simon wou'd not his fmall Veffel leave;
Cafting his Net, tho' ftill without fuccefs:
Our Saviour whom the num'rous Crowd did press,
Enters his Bark, and bids no longer keep
Th'unfaithful Sholes, but launch and try the Deep.
What can we hope, he fays, but fruitless Pain,
Where all the Night, we've toil'd, and toil'd in vain?
Yet at thy Word we'll try, and as he spake
They caft, and fuch a num'rous Draught they
take,

As did almoft unpeople half the Lake:
The glutted Net, as o're the wafte 'tis hal'd,
Breaks with the bulk; his Partners Simon call'd,
And both their Boats they fill'd unto the Brink,
Till over-freighted both begin to fink:
Aftonish'd, Peter kneel'd, and thus began,
Depart from me, for I'm a finful Man!
Fear not, but follow me, our Lord replys,

Henceforth you Men fhall take, their Souls a no

bler Prize.

LXXXI.

St. LUKE Chap. V. Ver. 8, 9, 10.

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8. When Simon Peter faw it, he fell down at Fefus knees, faying, Depart from me, for I am a finful man,

O Lord.

9. For he was aftonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken :

10. And fo was alfo James and John the fons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Fefus faid unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.

LXXXII.

The Widow's dead Son reftor'd to Life.

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She thro' Galilee his Courfe did bend,

And on his steps uncounted Crowds attend.
A Crowd as large, they meet at Naim's Gate,
The empty'd Town on a fad Coarfe did wait;
His Mother's only Son while Life was left,
Of her dear Confort long before bereft :
A mournful Pomp, folemn they march and slow,
Tho' faft the Tears from ev'ry Eye did flow;
His Mother's moft, nor hop'd, nor wish'd Relief,
Or Eafe for her intolerable Grief:

Death only this, and Death she did implore,
Since that wou'd her to her lov'd Son reftore.

With tender Pity mov'd-- Lament no more,
Our Saviour faid, then fix'd his Hands and Eyes
Upon the Bier, and bids the Youth arise:
From Death he rose, and robb'd th' expecting
Grave,

And him our Lord to his glad Mother gave: Th' aftonish'd People all were fill'd with dread,

And round the bord'ring Coafts the wond'rous Tidings fpred.

LXXXII.

St. LUKE Chap. VII. Ver. 12, to 15.

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12. Behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only fon of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.

13. And when the Lord faw her, he had compaffion on her, and faid unto her, IVeep not.

14. And he came and touched the bier, and they that bare him ftood still; and he faid, Young man, I fay unto thee, Arife.

15. And he that was dead fat up, and began to Speak: and he delivered him to his mother.

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LXXXIII.

Chrift's Feet anointed by a finful but penitent Woman.

RIch Simon did a fplendid Feaft provide,

Nor there his Company our Lord deny'd; A Woman heard and weeping enter'd in, Whofe vitious Soul had long been ftain'd with Sin. Behind the kneel'd, as one who dar'd not meet Our Saviour's Eyes, and wafh'd with Tears his Feet, Then foftly dries 'em with her lovely Hair,

And trembling kiss'd; nor this her only Care,

Them with rich Oyl anoints. Who made the Feaft
Thus cenfures to himself his heav'nly Gueft:
Had he a Prophet been, he'd ne're endure
The Touch of one fo finful and impure:
Our Lord who reads his inmoft Thoughts as plain
As he himself, to Simon thus began:

--A Creditor two Debtors chanc'd to have,
Infolvent both, and frankly both forgave :
The greater ow'd five hundred Pence, the leaft
But fifty tell me which will love him best:
He whom he moft forgave, his Hoft reply'd.
Our Lord-- Thou rightly doft the Cafe decide:
This Woman's Sins were great, her Love was more,
And thus, I Peace to her repenting Soul restore.

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