he hastens home, and gathers
together the whole of his property and sells it. Then he takes his
money to the man who has the land for sale, and buys the field of him.
Thus he becomes possessed of the treasure he has sought after. Jesus
says that the Kingdom of Heaven is like that treasure. It is so
precious, that when a man finds out its value, and knows how it can be
obtained, he will be willing to give up everything he has for it--all
his companions, pleasures, sins, riches--indeed everything he
possesses, in order to gain this great treasure.

[Illustration: THE TREASURE HID IN A FIELD.]

THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE.

Very similar to the parable of the Hidden Treasure is this one of the
merchant seeking goodly pearls.

"The kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchantman seeking goodly
pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold
all that he had, and bought it."

In the picture we see the merchant on the sea-shore, where he has
waited for the landing of these sailors from another country. He asks
them if they have any goodly pearls for sale, and one man opens his
box and takes out this "pearl of great price." It is just the kind of
pearl the merchant had been seeking, so he quickly produces his two
bags of gold and offers them to the man for his pearl. But the man
smiles. "What! part with so large and so beautiful a pearl for two
bags of gold?" He could not think of it. The pearl is again placed in
its box, and the merchant has to go away disappointed. But the longing
to have that pearl is too great. A thought occurs to him. He will go
home and sell all that is his, and the money he shall thus obtain,
added to his two bags of gold, will surely buy the precious jewel.

And so it is with men when they seek that pearl of pearls, the
forgiveness of God. They will give up a great deal in order to obtain
it, but they find that God requires them to give up everything that is
sinful or worldly. And if their hearts are really set upon obtaining
it, they will do as this merchant did, and part with everything that
would hinder them from coming to God, or walking in the way that leads
to heaven.

[Illustration: THE MERCHANT SEEKING GOODLY PEARLS.]

THE PARABLE OF THE NET.

These fishermen have just returned to shore with their net full of
fish. Now this is not a casting-net, which is thrown out from the boat
and drawn in again, but a drag-net which is of great length, and which
is