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eternal gain.

At the first trial or difficulty they fall away like seed cast upon stony or rocky ground, which soon springs up into a blade, but the earth is too thin and shallow to nourish it for any time; it is parched up and withered by the heat of the summer sun.

14. And that which fell among thorns are they, which when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

These go further still: are convinced of the truth of the gospel, acknowledge its excellence, profess to be partakers of its promises. But the love of this world, though shaken, is not subdued in their hearts and if not subdued, it will, in the end, prevail. To such St. John has written, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." A decided choice must be made, a decided preference shown. "The Lord our God is a jealous God;" and will not be satisfied with a divided heart, or a partial share of our affections. The cares of life cannot be avoided; but they must not choke the word: neither must the riches and pleasures of this life; these two must be kept subservient to the main object, the pleasures which are at God's right hand; they must be made to promote, and not to supersede, "the love of the Father." "They that will be rich," and they that will involve themselves in the cares of this world and the lust of other things, "fall into temptation

21 Tim. vi. 9. In the original, oi ẞovλevтai πλoutELV.

and a snare, and into any foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.” 3 Religion may not be thrown off entirely; it may keep a place in their thoughts and habits; but the love of God does not predominate: the corn runs up, and even comes to ear, but together with the corn such a crop of thorns and weeds, that no fruit is brought to perfection.

15. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

The word is still the same: the whole difference is in the heart. So, where the seed is the same, the whole difference is in the soil. In the former cases it has been unbroken, or rocky, or overspread with thorns; here it is good ground. And what makes it so?

No human heart is good of itself, so as to "receive the things of the Spirit of God." It is rendered such from above. It was "the Lord who opened. the heart of Lydlia, (Acts xvii. 14,) that she attended to the things spoken of Paul.” "The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, gives the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him."3

But as the husbandman both labours much, and can effect much in preparing his ground for seed; as he can soften what is hard, break up what is stony, and clear away briers and weeds; so there is much which every man can do, and must do, to entertain the Spirit of God, and prepare his heart 3 Eph. i. 17.

for the word. He must attend to it, as if it concerned him; he must resolve to treat the care of the soul as the one thing needful; he must not expose himself to needless cares and temptations; he must watch and pray, that the seed may enter into the heart, and abide, and take root there, and so spring up to everlasting life.

And this is the chief thing to be considered; has the seed done this? There is much in the nature of different soils, which no philosopher can trace or explain. And there is much that is mysterious in the dispositions of the heart, and the operations of the Spirit. One thing we know, that the Spirit know,—that prevents us, that we may have a good will, and works with us when the will is present with us. But whether we have the good will or no, is the fact of primary importance; and this fact of primary importance cannot be doubtful or mistaken. The honest and good heart, having heard the word, keeps it, and brings forth fruit with patience. It brings forth the beautiful and wholesome fruit of Christian duties and graces; love to God, and love to man; charity, honesty, meekness, temperance. This is the sure test of the quality of the soil. However well it may look and promise beforehand, so as to raise the hopes even of a practised husbandman, if it does not bear its proper return of corn, it cannot be called good ground. So with the heart. If sin is not gradually subdued; if temptations have not less power; if passion has not less vehemence; if worldly pleasures are not less esteemed; if worldly cares are not less oppressive to the mind; if the af

4 Art. x.

fections are not more and more set on things above; there is no proof of the word having yet been so received as to be retained. A corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit; neither can a sound tree bring forth evil fruit, or be altogether barren. Therefore by your fruits shall ye know yourselves, and be known of others. "In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil. Whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother."

LECTURE XXVII.

FUTURE REVELATION OF TRUTH DECLARED. THE DUTIES AND DANGERS OF NATURAL AFFECTION.

LUKE viii. 16-21.

(Mark iv. 21-23.)

16. No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.

17. For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest neither anything hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.

18. Take heed therefore how ye hear; for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.

These words were spoken to the disciples, who had before asked Jesus to expound to them the

parable of the sower. To them it was given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, in order that hereafter, in the proper season, they might declare them to others. For he had come a light into the world, but not a light which was to be concealed, any more than a candle was lighted for the purpose of being covered; but a light which was to be lifted up, that all who enter in might see the light, and no longer abide in darkness. Whatever was now secret should soon be made manifest; whatever was now hidden should soon be known and come abroad; the counsels of God should become clear, and the character and life of Jesus be seen to agree with all that Moses and the prophets had written concerning him.

Those whom he had chosen out of the world, his especial disciples, were to convey this knowledge. Let them therefore take heed how they heard; let them ponder these things in their hearts, and apply their faculties, and "stir up the gift of God' within them. The privileges which they enjoyed were talents of which they must give account; God would deal with them as a master who withdraws his confidence from the unprofitable servant, and gives it to the careful steward; or as a father, who takes away from the spendthrift son what he adds to the share of the wise and prudent. So that, whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he seemeth to have.

Righteous art thou, O Lord; and upright are thy judgments."

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