50 THE GOSPEL-NET. 



sion, there is formed a most complete net of regular 

 meshes, which must enclose and capture every tiny 

 insect or animalcule that floats within its range ; 

 ■*hile at each out-cast, it opens at every mesh, and 

 allows all refuse to he washed away or fall to the 

 ground. For we are not to suppose that the captures 

 thus promiscuously made are as indiscriminately 

 swallowed. A multitude of atoms are gathered which 

 would be quite unfit for food, and a power of selec- 

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

 of taste, of touch, or any other analogous but recon- 

 dite perception, 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 forms 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 

 Church here on earth ; it is an indiscriminate collec- 

 tion that determines nothing as to the eternal con- 

 dition 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. May both the 

 writer and the reader be robed in the righteousness 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 



