'The kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but 206 "In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dis- "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set 236 "We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by "Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things; but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all SERMON I. ABRAHAM AND LOT. GEN. xiii. 10, 11. "Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan." THE lesson to be gained from the history of Abraham and Lot is obviously this-that nothing but a clear apprehension of things unseen, a simple trust in God's promises, and the greatness of mind thence arising, can make us act above the world-indifferent, or almost so, to its comforts, enjoyments, and friendships; or in other words, that its goods corrupt the common run even of religious men who possess them. Lot, as well as Abraham, left his own country "by faith," in obedience to God's command; yet on a further trial, in which the will of God was not so clearly signified, the one was found "without spot and blameless," the other "was saved so as by fire." Abraham became the "father of all them that believe;" Lot obscured the especial hope. of his calling-impaired the privileges of his election -for a time allowed himself to resemble the multitude [III] A |