Kaina kai palaia Things new and old, or, A store-house of similies, sentences, allegories, apophthegms, adagies, apologues, divine, morall, politicall, &c. : with their severall applications / collected and observed from the writings and sayings of the learned in all ages to this present by John Spencer ...

[ XCI] The World like a Fisher-man's Net.

THe World is not unfitly compared to a fishing-net,* 1.1 the end of the world to the drawing up of the nets. While the nets are down, there is nothing said to be caught;* 1.2 for the nets may break, and the fish escape: But at the end of the world, when the nets are drawn up, it will then evidently appear, what every man hath caught; and then those that have fished for riches, or gain, soveraignty, and power over their breathren,* 1.3 for the honours and preferments of this world, may say with Peter, Domine, tota hac nocte laboravimus, &c. Lord, all this night have we labou∣red, and caught nothing at all. They dreamt of riches, and honours, and power; but being now awake, they find nothing in their hands at all. But those that have here fished for godlinesse, for peace, for the honour of God, may say, Domine, in verbo tuo retia dimisimus, &c. Lord, at thy word we have let down our nets, and have caught,* 1.4 yea, we have caught abundantly; we have fished for godlinesse, and have gotten life eternall; for grace, and we have gotten glory; for goodnesse, and we have gotten God himself, who is the fountain of all goodnesse and glory.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Math. 13. 47.
• * 1.2

  Th. Gataker's Gain of godli∣nesse.
• * 1.3

  Luk. ••. 7. August. in Palm. 76. 5.
• * 1.4

  Rom. 2. 7.