even the Lord Jesus Christ, the chief fisher of men, who was sent by
this everlasting gospel, it is my duty to endeavour, and it is my desire to be (Lord, you know) a fisher of men. But, alas! I may come in with my complaints to my Lord, that I have toiled in some measure, but caught nothing, for anything I know, as to the conversion of any one soul. I fear I may say, I have almost spent my strength in vain, and my labour for nought, for Israel is not gathered. O my soul, what may be the cause of this, why does my preaching so little good? No doubt part of the blame lies on myself, and a great part of it too. But who can give help in this case but the Lord himself? and how can I expect it from him but by prayer, and faith in the promises, and by consulting his word, where I may, by his Spirit shining on my heart, (shine, O Sun of righteousness), learn how to carry, and what to do, to the end the gospel preached by me may not be unsuccessful? Therefore my heart cried out after Christ this day, and my soul was moved, when I read that sweet promise of Christ, Matt. 4:19, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men, directed to those who would follow him. O how my soul longed to follow him, as on other accounts, so on this, that I might be honoured to be a fisher of men; Therefore my soul longed to know what sort of following Christ this is, to which this sweet promise is annexed. I would know it, (Lord, you know), that I might do it, and so catch poor souls by the gospel, and that I might know whether I have a right to this promise or not. O let your light and your truth shine forth, that they may be guides to me in this matter; and let the meditations of my heart be according to your mind, and directed by your unerring Spirit. Grant light and life, O Lord my God!
Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
In these words there are two things to be considered.
1. There is a duty, Follow me. Wherein consider, (1.) The object, me, even the Lord Jesus Christ, the chief fisher of men, who was sent by the Father to gather in the lost sheep of the house of Israel, who was and is the infinitely-wise God, and so knew the best way to catch men, and can instruct men how to be fishers of others. (2.) The act, Follow (Gk. come after) me: Leave your employment, and come after me.