avour with all the people" (Acts ii.
46, 47); when they rejoiced "that they were counted worthy to suffer
shame for His Name" (Acts v. 41); when being expelled with violence
from one city they went on to the next, and, instead of complaints,
"the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Ghost" (Acts
xiii. 50-52); and when one could say, who had given up all his earthly
prospects and high position amongst his fellows, "what things were
gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ" (Phil. iii. 7, 8).

The last Parable of the series, "The Draw-net," referring as it does
to the final separation at the end of the world, cannot be illustrated
by example.

Of the other Parables of "The Kingdom of Heaven" describing special
circumstances which affect the subjects of the Kingdom, only one, "The
Marriage of the King's Son," seems to be capable of illustration by
examples. And this is abundantly illustrated throughout the Acts of
the Apostles in the history of the extension of the Church. As soon as
the Gospel spread to Gentile lands, we find the Jews in general
persistently refusing to accept the Lord Jesus as Messiah and to
become members of the Church. Thus at Antioch in Pisidia, after the
glad tidings had been so published that "almost the whole city came
together to hear the Word of God; when the Jews saw the multitudes
they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were
spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming." Then the literal
fulfilment of this prophetic Parable followed. "Paul and Barnabas
waxed bold and said, It was necessary that the word of God should
first have been spoken to you; but seeing ye put it from you, and
judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the
Gentiles" (Acts xiii. 44-46). And, in a similar way, the last chapter
of the Acts of the Apostles records how the Jews in Rome brought upon
themselves the warning Words of S. Paul, "Be it known, therefore, unto
you; that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that
they will hear it" (Acts xxviii. 25-28).

Thus we find the Parables of "The Kingdom of Heaven" exemplified and
fulfilled in the history of the early Church. And any doubt still
lingering in the mind of the reader, about the Church of Christ being
"The Kingdom of Heaven," may be dispelled by the clear testimony of
the facts recorded in Holy Scripture.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE ESSENTIAL UNITY OF THE KINGDOM.

"Elect from every n