44 Again, tlie kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field ; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and sfilktli^allthat he hath, and buy- etli that field.
45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodiy pearls ;
4*3 Who, when lie had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
47 Again, the kingdom of heaven
is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind :
48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
49 So shall it be in the end of the world : the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire : there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
The parable of the " treasures hid in a field," and the '' merchant man seeking goodly pearls," appear intended to convey one and the same lesson. They vary, no doubt, in one striking particular. The " treasure" was found of one who does not seem to have sought it. The
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" pearl" was found of one wlio was actually seeking pearls. But the conduct of the finders, in both cases, was pre- cisely alike. Both " sold all" to make the thing found their own property. And it is exactly at this point that the instruction of both parables agrees.
These two parables are meant to teach us, that men really convinced of the importance of salvation, loill give up everything to ivin Christ j and eternal life.
What was the conduct of the two men our Lord de- scribes ? The one was persuaded that there was a ^Hreasure hid in a field," which would amply repay him, if he bought the field, however great the price that he might give. The other was persuaded that the " pearl" he had found was so immensely valuable, that it would answer to him to purchase it at any cost. Both were convinced that they had found a thing of great value. Both were satisfied that it was worth a great present sacrifice to make this thing th^ir own. Others might wondgr at them. Others might think them foolish for paying such a sum of money for the field and pearl. But they knew what they were about. They were sure that they were making a good bargain.
Behold in this single picture, the conduct of a true Christian explained ! He is what he is, and does what he does in his religion, because he is thoroughly per- suaded that it is worth while. He comes out from the world. He puts off the old man. He forsakes the vain companions of his past life. Like Matthew, he gives up everything, and, like Paul, he " counts all things loss" for Christ's sake. And why ? Because he is con- vinced that Christ will make amends to him for all he