As  soon  as  the  disciples  came  on  shore,  they  found  a  fire
kindled,  and  fish  laid  upon  it,  either  immediately  created  by  the
power  of  their  divine  Master,  or  which  came  ashore  of  its  own
accord,  and  oflered  .'itself  to  his  hand.  But  notwithstanding
there  were  fish  already  on  the  fire,  he  ordered  them  to  bring
those  they  had  now  caught,  and  dress  them  for  their  repast,  he
himself  eating  with  them  ;  both  to  give  them  an  instance  of  ma-
tual  love  and  friendship,  and  also  to  assure  them  of  the  truth  of
his  human  nature,  since  he  was  risen  from  the  dead.
When  the  repast  was  ended,  our  blessed  Saviour  addressed
himself  particularly  to  Peter,  urging  him  to  the  utmost  diligence
in  the  care  of  souls :  and  because  he  knew  that  nothing  but
a  sincere  love  to  himself  could  support  him  under  the  trouble
and  dangers  of  so    laborious  and  difficult  an  employment,  he


438  LIVES  OF  THE  APOSTLBS.
inquired  of  him,  whether  he  loved  him  more  than  the  rest  of  the
apostles :  mildly  reproving  him  for  his  over-confident  resolution.
