Page:The Net of Faith.pdf/221



Now when Jesus had ceased speaking, he said to Simon Peter, "Push out into the deep and let down your nets for a haul." And Simon answering said, "Master, we toiled all night and caught nothing, nevertheless, at thy word I will let down the net." And when they had done this, they enclosed such a great shoal of fish that their net began to break.

These words written in the Gospel are the foundation of those matters which ought to be profitably taught, to some for usefulness, to others for irritation, provocation, ill-will, and disfavor. In this respect, however, we will, with God's help, deal with nothing else but that we of the latter day desire to see the first things, and to take hold of them, if He will let us do so. For the worst time has come, the time of storm, the time of crying and moaning, the time of all sorts of deception, which makes it possible that every one to the last man be deceived by signs and miracles performed by false Christs. And none would be able to withstand them were it not that God has shortened these times for His chosen people. Instead of the word  the original has the expression "prikazateli," meaning "thou who commandest," "commander."

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