THE GOSPEL-NET. 43 



siou, there is formed a most complete net of regular 

 meslies, ■whicli must enclose and captiu-e every tiny 

 insect or animalcule that floats within its range ; 

 while, at each out-cast, it opeyis at every mesh, and 

 allows all refuse to be washed away or fall to the 

 gTound. For we are not to suppose that the captm-es 

 thus promiscuously made are as indiscriminately 

 swallowed. A multitude of atoms are gathered which 

 would be quite unfit for food, and a power of selection 

 resides in the mouth, whether it be the sense of taste, 

 of touch, or any other analogous but recondite per- 

 ception, by which the useful only is admitted ; the 

 worthless, or at least the injurious, being rejected. 



This arrangement, — which is very common in the 

 lowest foiTus of animal life, where food is brought by 

 constant ciliary currents, — reminds me of the Gospel 

 net, mentioned by our Lord, which is " cast into the 

 sea, and gathers of every kind ; which, when it is full, 

 they draw to shore, and sit down, and gather the 

 good into vessels, but cast the bad away" (Matt. xiii. 

 47, 48). Persons of all sorts are gathered into the 

 professing Church here on earth ; it is an indiscrimi- 

 nate collection that determines nothing as to the eter- 

 nal condition of those who are embraced by it : the 

 selection is to be made " at the end of the age," when 

 it will be found that not every one that saith " Lord, 

 Lord ! shall enter into the kingdom of heaven." 

 reader ! see to it that you are robed in the righteous- 

 ness of Christ, that "wedding garment," without 

 which the Christian name and profession will bring 

 only the deeper condemnation ! 



I am afraid the many words I have been compelled 



