AS soon as we were come to the place the Fisher-man told us of, we found it as plentifully stor’d with Fish as he had fore-told us, and caught more in some few Minutes than we had taken in a whole hour before: But we did not half so much marvel at this, as we were pleas’d with it, because the Fisher-man inform’d us, that he had liberally Baited the place over-night with Corn, as well as VVorms; whil’st this pleasant Exercise lasted, Eusebius marking how great a Resort of Fishes there was in that place, and how fast we drew them up, upon comparing what he saw happen, with the Occasion of it, thus acquainted us with the thoughts thereby suggested to him. Those (says he) that Yester-day in the Evening might see this Man (pointing at the Fisher-man) throw in his Baits by handfulls into this place, and then depart, as minding them no more, were probably, if they knew not his Design, and the Custom of Fishers, tempted to think him a wastfull Prodigal, or at best a venturous Fool, to bury his Corn in the River, and throw his Baits to be caught up by Fishes, that for ought he knew would never come back to thank their Host. But those that know (what we now find) how profitable a Course this is wont to prove, would, in stead of thinking such a practice a piece of Folly, look upon it as a piece of Providence: For though he be sure not to recover in kind the things he cast upon the Waters, yet such a loss is wont to prove very gainfull unto him, whilst he loses but a Grain of Corn, or a Worm, to obtain Fishes of far more Value. Thus, though the purblind World may think a liberal Almes-giver, or a generous Confessor, a Fool, or a Prodigal, whil’st they only consider him as one that throws away what he has in present Possession, and seems not so much as to hope for the recovery of the same Goods, or any of the like Nature; yet those whose Eyes being Illuminated with a Heavenly light, are thereby enabl’d to look into the vast and distant Regions of the future, and to descry there the final Issues of all Temporal things, will be so far from thinking him unwise, for parting with unsatisfying Trifles, to procure the highest and most permanent Goods, that they will think his Proceedings far more justifiable in point of Prudence, than we now think the Fisher-man’s: Nor will the parting with a greater Fortune, as freely as with a lesser, any more alter the Case, than the Fisher-mans throwing in his bigger VVorms, and grains of Corn, with no more scruple than his lesser: For Heaven does as well incomparably outvaue the greatest, as the least Goods poor Morals can lay out for it; and he, who has all things to give, and is infinitely more than all himself, has promis’d, that those that Sow plentifully, shall Reap so too; and though the least of future Acquists would incomparably transcend the greatest Price that can be here given for it, yet the future Rewards will betwixt one another bear a proportion to the Occasions of them; and as the Fisher-man is sure to lose what he throws into the Water, and is not sure to get by it any thing of greater Value than some Fishes; the Christian-Adventurer, (if I may so call him) may hope, though not confidently promise himself, in this World the hundred fold mention’d by our Saviour, as well as in the VVorld to come Life everlasting. And therefore, if we do indeed in Saint Paul’s Language, look, not to the things which are seen, which are but Temporary, but to the Invisible ones which are Eternal, we shall think that Exhortation of his very Rational, as well as very Pious, where, having Discours’d of the future and glorious State of the true Christians, he concludes, Wherefore, my beloved Brethren, be ye stedfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord; for as much as you know, that your Labour is not in vain in the Lord.
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