Chapter 2. On the Precious Pearl.

THE next parable, on the precious pearl, is like to the preceding one: this also conies in St. Matthew, (chap, xiii.) In the former was a treasure, and in this is a pearl which may be considered like a treasure. In the former parable, it was necessary by the sale of all our goods, to purchase the hidden treasure ; in this one likewise, the merchant sold all his goods, in order to buy it. Where fore, it will only be necessary to explain in what point this parable differs from the other. It differs in two things ; for in the one a treasure is mentioned, in the other a pearl : and whilst the treasure is accidently found, the pearl is diligently sought for by the merchant. In this parable, the hea venly beatitude, or Christ himself, is named a " pearl," as the holy fathers St. Ambrose and St. Gregory Nazianzen teach. But that which in the preceding parable is called a " treasure/' in this is named a " pearl," that we may understand how the divinity of Christ is indeed a treasure, but not divided into many parts of gold, silver, and precious stones, for it is one containing within itself the value of an infinite treasure. A pearl is one substance : but according to Pliny, it contains the essence of all precious things.

Besides, a treasure consists in money alone, in immense sums ; and it tends not to plea sure and beauty, but to utility only. Where fore, lest from the preceding parable any one might suppose, that heavenly beatitude was only useful, and not beautiful nor glorious, our Lord added this other parable ; in which He teacheth us, that the divinity of Christ and our happiness are like unto the precious pearl, which, beside the utility of it as a treasure, possesses also the beauty and splendour that adorn and delight us.

I will also remark, that a pearl is a sym bol of Christ, both as the Son of God, arid as the Son of the Blessed Virgin. For as a pearl is produced by the light of the sun, and from the dew of heaven, as Pliny and others remark ; so the Son of God also, as regards His divinity, is begotten of the Father of Light, the uncreated Sun ; and therefore we say in the creed, ' ' Light of Light, true God of true God." ^ Again, Christ according to His humanity, was born of the dew of heaven, that is, conceived of the Holy Ghost, not by man. In fine, a pearl is white, shining, solid, pure, light and round. Now, the humanity of Christ, and much more His divinity without any comparison, is white by innocence ; shining by wisdom ; solid by constancy ; pure, because without spot; light, because meek and mild; and round, because perfect in every part. But the pearl is not found by " chance," but is diligently sought after by

the prudent merchant. And yet, this para ble is not contrary to the preceding one, in which the treasure is said to be found by chance : both are true, but the persons are different : and therefore our Lord, in His divine Providence, joined this parable to the former one, lest we should think all men may find the treasure as it were by chance. Some there are, whom God, by a particular grace, suddenly enlightens, so that neither seeking, nor desiring, nor thinking, they arrive at the true faith and a most ardent charity, and therefore have a certain hope of obtaining eternal life. These find indeed, as regard themselves, the treasure by chance : but God pre-ordained them to this grace and to future glory, not by chance, but by His eternal Providence. Others there are whom God prevents by His grace, but not suddenly doth He show them the treasure, for He inspires them with a desire of seeking the truth : He makes them care ful merchants, and then aids and directs them till they find the precious pearl. St. Paul and St. Augustine are examples in this respect. St. Paul sought not the true treasure — which is* Christ, but persecuted Him as a seducer, and the Christians as men deluded. And when he was on his journey, "breathing out threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord/' our Lord appeared unto him ; and at the same time that He blinded the eyes of his body, He illuminated those of the soul with

such great light, that immediately he be came a preacher, from being a persecutor. And although this was a fortunate event to him, yet what appeared chance, was in God — Providence. For thus he speaks in his Epistle to the Galatians : "For you have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion ; how that beyond mea sure I persecuted the Church of God, and wasted it. And I made progress in the Jews' religion above many of my equals in my own nation, being more abundantly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. And when it pleased him who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles, immediately I condescended not to flesh and blood." (chap, i.) Wherefore, St. Paul was separated from the womb of his mother by Divine providence, that he might preach the Gospel of Christ ; yet he did not seek this precious pearl himself, nor the treasure in the field ; but the treasure was offered to him, and he became so much in love with it, that he spared no labours ; yea, he endured every danger, and <c counted all things as dung, that he might gain Christ." On the other hand, St. Augustine began from his youth to burn with a desire of finding the " precious pearl," that is, true wisdom and eternal happiness. But when he fell into the sect of the Manichees, long and greatly did he labour, complaining to himself and

disputing with others, that he might dis cover the truth of the Christian religion. But ^when he had discovered in that sect nothing but fabulous and lying accounts, he then almost despaired of finding the truth — having spent many years in seeking it. Thus he speaks in his ' Confessions :'* :< I had come into the depth of the sea, and despaired of finding truth/' But yet it pleased God that he should at length dis cover the " precious pearl:" and then with out any delay, having sold all things — that is, having rejected carnal desires by which he was strongly bound, and despising honours and emoluments, to which he ardently aspired, (as he himself tells us,) he gave himself up for ever to the service of God alone. This therefore, is the reason, why in the first parable our Lord compared the kingdom of heaven to a treasure found without labour, and by chance ; but in the other likened it to a pearl, sought after by a merchant, with great labour and diligence.

It now only remains that the Christian soul, removing aside for a time all other occupations, should seriously consider with in herself, and before God, what is the nature of ^ this business — how useful, and how easy it is at the present time ; .but how difficult, or rather how impossible it will^ become, if worldly things occupy the attention. Truly,

the children of this world would not omit the opportunity of purchasing a pearl which could be sold for many thousands of pounds. And shall the children of light be so imprudent as to refuse to purchase the " pearl" which will make them eternally rich and happy, and when they will neither be compelled to receive money in usury, nor to travel here and there to seek a purchaser, but it will be quite sufficient willingly to give what they possess, even if they had but two farthings. Wherefore, O Lord my God, let Thy light shine in my heart : grant that I may know the worth of Thy invaluable pearl, and at the same time the littleness of the price which is required of me to purchase it. Add, 0 Lord, to thy mercies, that thou mayest not in vain show unto me so precious a pearl ; and Thou who hast said, "Cast ye not your pearls before swine/' grant by Thy grace that if at any time I have been like unto swine, ignorant of the value of Thy pearl, and pre ferring the husks before it, I may now, enlightened and instructed by Thee, disco ver the pearl, and selling all my goods, purchase it with joy.