Page:The aquarium - an unveiling of the wonders of the deep sea.djvu/83

50, there is formed a most complete net of regular meshes, which must enclose and capture every tiny insect or animalcule that floats within its range; while at each out-cast, it opens at every mesh, and allows all refuse to be washed away or fall to the ground. For we are not to suppose that the captures thus promiscuously made are as indiscriminately swallowed. A multitude of atoms are gathered which would be quite unfit for food, and a power of selection resides in the mouth, whether it be the sense of of taste, of touch, or any other analogous but recondite perception, by which the useful only is admitted, the worthless, or at least the injurious, being rejected.

This arrangement, which is very common in the lowest forms of animal life, where food is brought by constant ciliary currents,—reminds me of the Gospel net, mentioned by our Lord, which is "cast into the sea and gathers of every kind; which, when it is full, they draw to shore, and sit down, and gather the good into vessels, but cast the bad away" (Matt. xiii 47, 48). Persons of all sorts are gathered into the Church here on earth; it is an indiscriminate collection that determines nothing as to the eternal condition of those who are embraced by it: the selection is to be made "at the end of the age," when it will be found that not every one that saith Lord, Lord! shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. May both the writer and the reader be robed in the righteousness of Christ, that "wedding garment," without which the Christian name and profession will bring only the deeper condemnation!

I am afraid the many words I have been compelled