they would be something more than "almost Christians." So corn might flourish on stony ground, if there were no sun to parch it, or no storms to wash it away it springs up for a time, and then withers for lack of moisture. Such is the faith of these barren hearers; it flourishes, till temptation arrives; till some bad habit is to be renounced, some good habit acquired, some self-denial exercised and then its want of root is visible.

18. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,

19. And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Seed which falls among thorns, is more likely to take root and flourish for a while, than either that which is dropped by the way side, or that which is sown on stony ground. But it is no more likely to succeed in the end; to ripen and perfect its fruit. So the effect of the cares, the business, the pleasures of the world, is not seen immediately: and is the more dangerous, because it is more deceitful. Open transgressions of the divine law alarm the conscience. A worldly spirit creeps unawares, like briars among corn, or clokes itself under the plea of the necessities of a family, or the exigencies of old age: till men come, perhaps, like the sister of Lazarus, to imagine that they are discharging a duty, when they are neglecting the "one thing needful." 1

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If this be so if seed may be scattered around us, yet never reach the heart: if it may enter the

'Luke x. 40.

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surface, yet take no root: if it may even take root, and afterwards be choked and overgrown, and therefore barren: what need is there for all to examine themselves, whether they be in the faith, to prove their own selves! What need of watchfulness, when an enemy is always watchful: what need of prayer, when the flesh is so weak: what need of comparing our course of life and thought with Scripture, when "the heart is deceitful above all things!"

For that enemy may be overcome; the flesh may be subdued to the spirit: and the deceitful heart may become the honest and good heart, which brings fruit to perfection.

20. And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit some thirty fold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

This description of the ground which is really good convicts multitudes, who, when they cannot defend their practice, boast of their sincere hearts. Scripture allows but one proof of a good heart, that it receives the word, and brings forth fruit such fruit as is not natural to the human heart, but springs from "the engrafted word;" "love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, meekness, faith, temperance."

May "these things be in us, and abound:" and show "that we be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ!"

LECTURE LXXXII.

THE LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL TO BE DIFFUSED BY THE APOSTLES.

THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL COMPARED TO THE GROWTH OF GRAIN.

MARK IV. 21-29.

21. And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?

22. For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.

23. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

24. And he saith unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you : and unto you that hear shall more be given.

25. For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.

Christ here intimates to his disciples, how those things which were now spoken in parables, should hereafter be duly explained: and what was now taught in secret, should hereafter come abroad. He was "come, the light of the world." And as a man does not light a candle to hide it under a bushel, or under a bed, so neither did God send his Son, except that he might be manifested and believed on in the world. And that, through their means: so that they must take heed to what they heard. They were stewards; and "it is required of stewards that

they be found faithful." They should be dealt with according to their faithfulness. With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured unto you. According as they measured out with fidelity the truths imparted to them, more should be given. For such is the will of God. He takes the talent from the slothful, and gives it to the diligent. "The earth which drinketh in the rain which cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God."!

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This leads to a representation of the growth of the kingdom of God, of which the apostles should be the first instruments.

26. And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;

27. And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.

28. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. 29. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

This parable explains how the gospel should grow secretly and make its gradual way, both in the world at large, and in the hearts of individuals. So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground. Our Lord himself was now the man whom he represents as doing this: he was eradicating the errors of the Jewish people, and sowing eternal truth in their stead: he was declaring the real nature of God's heavenly kingdom, and revealing the way which leads to it: he was opening to mankind the secrets of their own corrupt hearts, and

Hebr. vi. 7.

the renewing change which they required: he was explaining what is, and what is not, “true and undefiled religion." And this seed was to lie long in the ground. It was to remain in the memories of those who received it, till called forth by the command of the Holy Spirit; and disclosed by a gradual developement, "to the Jew first, and afterward to the Gentile." It was to be transmitted slowly, and by degrees, from city to town, and from town to village; from province to province, from country to country. And thus would spring up first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. First, the number of the names. together would be about an hundred and twenty. Not long after would be added unto them about three thousand souls. By degrees the word of the Lord would increase, and the number of the disciples multiply in Jerusalem greatly, both of men and women, and "a great company of the priests would be obedient to the faith." Then the gift of the Holy Ghost would be poured out upon the Gentiles also: multitudes would so "learn Christ" as to turn from their idolatrous "vanities to serve the living God;" to "be renewed in the spirit of their minds;" and to and to "put on the new man, which, after God, is created in righteousness and true holiness."

All this, and much more, was foreseen by our blessed Lord when he uttered this parable. He knew that the seed which he came to sow, should spring and grow up, man knoweth not how.

And what Christ, the chief husbandman, was then doing in person, has been carried on since, and