Matthew 13:48

They draw it out and sit beside the shore, because just as the sea signifies the world, so the shore of the sea signifies the end of the world. At which end, namely, good fish are selected into vessels, while the bad are thrown away, because each of the elect is received into eternal tabernacles, and having lost the light of the inner kingdom, the reprobate are dragged away to outer darkness. For now the net of faith holds us together, both good and bad, as if we were fish mixed together, but the shore reveals what the net, that is, the Holy Church, was dragging. And indeed fish that have been caught cannot be changed; but we are caught as evil, yet we are transformed into goodness. Let us therefore think about our capture, lest we be divided at the shore. Behold how pleasing today's solemnity is to you, so that it would be no small loss if anyone happened to be absent from this assembly of yours. What then will he do on that day, who is seized from the sight of the Judge, separated from the company of the elect, who is darkened from the light, tortured by eternal burning?

(Hom. in Ev. xi. 4.) it is then fully filled when in the end of all things the sum of the human race is completed; as it follows, Which, when it was filled, they drew out, and sitting down on the shore gathered the good into vessels, but the bad they cast away. For as the sea signifies the world, so the sea shore signifies the end of the world; and as the good are gathered into vessels, but the bad cast away, so each man is received into eternal abodes, while the reprobate having lost the light of the inward kingdom are cast forth into outer darkness. But now the net of faith holds good and bad mingled together in one; but the shore shall discover what the net of the Church has brought to land.

But will the end be the same for all? Now all are together in the net, but at the end all will be separated; hence he says which, when it was filled, i.e., when as many elect have entered as to complete the number of …

Here are two parables intended to show that the gospel church should be very small at first, but that in process of time it should become a considerable body: that of the grain of mustard-seed (

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens

Which when, it was full,....

The parables of the “treasure hidden in a field” and the “merchant man seeking goodly pearls,” appear intended to convey one the same lesson. They vary, no doubt, in one striking particular: the “treasure” was found of one who does not seem to have sought it; the “pearl” was found of one who was actually seeking pearls. But the conduct of the finders, in both cases, was precisely alike: both “sold all” to make the thing found their own property; and it is exactly at this point that the instruction of both parables agrees.

The parables of the “treasure hidden in a field” and the “merchant man seeking goodly pearls,” appear intended to convey one the same lesson. They vary, no doubt, in one striking particular: the “treasure” was found of one who does not seem to have sought it; the “pearl” was found of one who was actually seeking pearls. But the conduct of the finders, in both cases, was precisely alike: both “sold all” to make the thing found their own property; and it is exactly at this point that the instruction of both parables agrees. These two parables are meant to teach us that men who are really convinced of the importance of salvation will give up everything to win Christ and eternal life. What was the conduct of the two men our Lord describes? The one was persuaded that there was a “treasure hid in a field,” which would amply repay him if he bought the field, however great the price that he might give. The other was persuaded that the “pearl” he had found was so immensely valuable that it would answer to him to purchase it at any cost. Both were convinced that they had found a thing of great value: both were satisfied that it was worth a great present sacrifice to make this thing their own. Others might wonder at them; others might think them foolish for paying such a sum of money for the “field” and “pearl,” but they knew what they were about. They were sure that they were making a good bargain. We see, in this simple picture, the conduct of a true Christian explained. He is what he is, and does what he does in his religion, because he is thoroughly persuaded that it is worthwhile. He comes out from the world; he puts off the old man; he forsakes the vain companions of his past life. Like Matthew, he gives up everything, and like Paul, he counts “all things loss” for Christ’s sake. And why? Because he is convinced that Christ will make amends to him for all he gives up.