The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-03

money buried centuries ago and for
gotten, and not belonging to the owner
of the field more than to others who
might find it. In such a case any one
of ordinary intelligence would be will
ing to invest everything that he pos
sessed to acquire the title.
So the Master declared to those who
heard Him then, and to us who re-
ceive His words now, that He has in
formation to give respecting a Great
Treasure, a Priceless Treasure, which
can be obtained only by the expendi-
ture of great energy and the invest
ment of everything of value. The
Great Treasure is the share in the
Mess1anic Kingdom-that by accepting
the terms of discipIeship we may be-
come not only sons of God. but heirs
or God and joint-heirs with Jesus
Christ our Lord to His heavenly in
heritance.
A Pearl of Great Value
N the days of our Savior pearls were
amongst the most precious of Jewels
ana the larger and more nearly per
Iect the pearl the greater its value
Inc Great Teacher used this familiar
matter as the basis for a lesson on the
value of the Kingdom. The Merchant
Oh the Parable found a Pearl so SUI
perlor in every respect that he consid-
cred 1t cheap to give everything that
he possessed to become it's owner.
This. said the Master, illustrates the
~
honor and imm ortality. which I am
inviting an elect, sanity little flock to
snare with Me. Those who prize it
properly will show their appreciation
pay for it. Whether a man be wealthy
or poor, learned or ignorant, influential
or otherwise, the cost of this Kingdom
Pearl will be-his all.
Inc WealthieSt or most talented per-
son in the world could not obtain a
share in the Kingd, m if he kept back
one atom of his possessions; the price
of the Kingdom is self-sacrifice, even
unto death, and nothing less will Sc
cure it. Nor would any sacrifice that
we could make secure a share in this
Kingdom for US, except as our sacri-
flee should first be made acceptable
in Gods sight through the precious
merit of our Redeemer'S sacrifice.
The Parable of the Fish Net.
We are not to think of the Kingdom
as a net, but that the embryo King
dom resembles a fishing experience
with net, in which were gathered 5ll
embryo Kingdom because it relates to
a work done in this Age, in connec-
ton with the finding of the little
flock" who will constitute the King
Age has not been seeking all kinds of
people. He has been calling, drawing
especially and dealing with, only the
''elect," only the sanity.
But, incidentally, variety OF other
kinds of fish have gotten into the Cos
pei Net some from worldly ambitions,
some because religious systems are a
good matrimonial field, others because
of social privileges and standing, 9TH
erS because they would use religion as
a cloak for business enterprises, etc
The parable tells US that when the
net was full it was drawn ashore" and
the fish sorted. Then the fishing
ceased. Who can say that the oppor-
tunitv for entering the met as one of
the true fish of the kind the Lord is
seeking may not be almost at an end |?
Who can say that the Gospel Net. with
its full assortment of churchianity of
every style will not soon be darwin
ashore that the suitable, the elect, may
be gathered into the Kingdom?