his disciples, upon whosoever shall do the will of
his heavenly Father, in the endearing light of near-
est relationship. How certainly, then, will he de-
liver from all the power and all the snares of Satan,
those who are really desirous to "purge themselves
from dead works," "to serve the living God!"
How justly may we feel confident, that he will
keep what we have committed to him, unto the
great day!"
"For we have not a high priest that
cannot be touched with our infirmities," or was igno-
rant of the malice of "Satan, but was in all points
tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us
therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that
we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in
time of need." 8

LECTURE XXXIII.

PARABLE OF THE SOWER.

MATT. xiii. 1-23.

Mark iv.

1-20.

1. The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by Luke viii. the sea side.

2. And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship and sat: and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

* Heb. iv. 15.

4-15.

3. And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow ;

4. And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up :

5. Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth; and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:

6. And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

7. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

8. But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit; some an hundred fold, some sixty fold, some thirty fold.

9. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

10. And the disciples came and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

11. He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven; but to them it is not given.

12. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance; but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

This sentence, which taken by itself might be hard to understand, is explained in the parable of the talents, where the same words occur. (Matt. xxv. 29). There a talent had been given to a slothful servant, who "hid it in the earth :" made no use of it. Such was the case of the Jewish nation. Spiritual advantages had belonged to them, which had belonged to no other people: and now they were withdrawn, having been long neglected and abused, as the talent was taken from the unprofitable servant who buried it, and given to the diligent servant who had made the most of what was en

trusted to him. "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" when to him who hath, shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, hath nothing to show in return for all the means of grace which he has enjoyed, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

13. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand:

14. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

15. For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

16. But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear.

17. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

Many of the prophets desired to understand, more fully than was possible for them, the nature of the Messiah's kingdom which they were instructed to foretell: and righteous men may have anxiously "waited for the consolation of Israel," to whom it was not given, as it was to Simeon, to "see the salvation" of God. 1

18. Hear ye, therefore, the parable of the sower.

19. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catch

'See Luke ii. 25, &c.

eth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

20. But he that received the seed into stony places, the sume is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

21. Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while; for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

22. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

23. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundred-fold, some sixty, some thirty.

An awful description is here given of the different effect of the same seed, according to the soil it falls upon. The word is the same: the whole difference is in the heart as in natural husbandry, the crop depends upon the soil, and the preparation which it has undergone. There are some soils in such a state, or so barren in themselves, that no experienced person would expect a return from them. They are so stiff, or so sandy, or so rocky, or so overspread with weeds and briars, that no corn can be produced there: so are there some hearts, of which, remaining as they are, we can entertain no hope. They are so stiff, and prejudiced, that they will not receive the seed at all: or they are so light, or so stony, that the seed sown finds no strength, or room, or substance to root in.

Instead of dwelling now upon these barren soils,

let us consider the right state of heart; the good ground. The description here given of the good ground, is that having heard the word, it understandeth it, and beareth fruit. As seed will be thrown away unless the land is suitable for its reception; so the heart must be in a certain state of preparation, or the word will not profit it. It must be in a teachable, unprejudiced frame, like that intended by our Lord, when he said, "Except ye receive the kingdom of God as a little child, ye shall in no wise enter therein." Unless there is some tenderness, and humility, and sincerity, the truths of the gospel will not penetrate, or take root, so as to bring fruit to perfection.

ans,

For example. Some of the Jews, when they heard our Lord's words, satisfied themselves with the easy answer, "Look and see; for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet." Or said, "He has a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?" Of the Atheni"some mocked," when Paul preached to them the resurrection, and the life of the world to come. These hearts were like the way side. Others of the Athenians said to Paul, "We will hear thee again on this matter:" and another set among the Jews" believed on Jesus; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue.' Here was seed falling upon stony places.

993

The apostles, however, "left all, and followed him." Instead of going away, like others, they said, "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life." So at Athens, likewise, 3 John xii. 42.

2 See Acts xvii. 32. &c.