Page:The Net of Faith.pdf/143

56 in most medieval treatises, learned men and theologians wasted themselves in fanciful trivialities. But Chelc̄icky̍, starting with his allegory and bringing out its ethical, political and economic implications, goes far beyond these stereotyped commentaries. In reading his interpretation of the story we realize that

In his allegory, the net becomes the symbol of the Christian religion; in the net there is a multitude of fish caught by the apostles who are aided by Jesus. They represent the Christians. The loving will of God offers to men His net of faith in Jesus Christ and with it his salvation. And so there comes down into the sea of human bondage, sin and misery, a veritable symbol of the divine, the net of faith, to do its work of redemption. But the net became greatly torn

Spinka,, p.289.

,I,chap.XIV, p.74*.