ok only like rough stones in the field, but the pearl is
perfect when found; nothing can be done to make it more perfect or more
valuable. Just so is the salvation of Jesus perfect; no human wisdom can
improve upon it. The best book that any man ever wrote has been equaled
by what some other man has thought and written. The religion of the
heathen can be greatly improved, but the Bible and the salvation which
it reveals, man has never been able to equal, much less to improve upon.

To-day, as thousands of years ago, pearls are worn as ornaments to the
body, but the salvation which Jesus Christ came to bring is an ornament
to the soul that possesses it.

The pearl is valuable and desirable, because it cannot easily be stolen
away from its owner. When Jesus was upon the earth they did not have
banks, with large iron safes where people could deposit their money and
jewels for safe keeping. There were many robbers then, and people buried
their money and valuables. Often the places where these were concealed
were discovered, and then all that they had was stolen. A pearl is
small, and could therefore easily be hidden in a place of safety. If war
occurred, or for any reason a man and his family had to flee from their
home or their country, they could easily carry even the most valuable
pearls. The owner could hide it in his mouth, or even swallow it if
necessary. If a man had much gold, it was too heavy to carry, and it
could readily be discovered and stolen. But a pearl was not so difficult
to hide and keep.

The Bible tells us that salvation is something that the world cannot
give, and which the world cannot take away. Daniel had this pearl of
great price, and even though the king cast him into the den of lions, he
could not get it away from him. His three companions with those hard
names, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, had this pearl of salvation, and
even in the furnace of fire it was not destroyed or taken from them. If
you have this pearl of salvation, you can keep it in spite of all the
wicked people in the world; you can hide it away in your heart, and all
the armies of the world cannot take it away from you. In sickness or in
health it will be yours, and even death itself can not rob you of it. It
will stay with you in this world, and it will be your joy and gladness
in the world to come.

As the merchantman went out seeking the most valuable pearl, so all the
world is to-day seeking for something which will sati