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LECTURE LXXXIII.

THE GOSPEL COMPARED TO A SEED GROWING INTO A TREE.

A STORM IS QUIETED AT THE COMMAND OF

JESUS.

MARK iv. 30-41.

(Matt. xiii. 31-34.)

30. And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?

31. It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:

32. But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.

33. And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.

34. But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.

Time has expounded this last parable in a most striking manner. Who that saw a grain of seed, even if it were not less than all other seeds, would believe that the branching shrub or lofty tree should spring from it? And who that saw our Lord, born of an obscure family, in an obscure province, traversing the country of Judea with a few obscure disciples, would have believed that the doctrine he was teaching should supersede all other doctrines, growing up, and shooting out great branches, and furnishing a shelter for all the nations

of the earth, where their ignorance might be instructed, their fears comforted, their penitence received? "Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight."

(Matt. viii. 18-27. Luke viii. 22—25.)

35. And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.

36. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.

37. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

38. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

39. And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

40. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

41. And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

We may turn this history to our own use, if we consider, first, who were the company in this short voyage.

Embarked in this little ship, were Jesus and his disciples. Jesus, the Son of God, who had come to bless the world, by reconciling it to God: and his disciples, who received him as the promised Saviour, and believed that "he had the words of eternal life." Their case, then, ought to be ours also. For he has called us, as he called them, to follow him, to enter into his service, to put ourselves into

his hands, to be guided by him "into the way of peace." And those who have listened to his call, are passing through the world, as these disciples were crossing the sea in company with God their Saviour.

But they have not yet entered into their rest. It is not a sea without storms. There arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship.

Here, too, is life, every-day life. The Christian is not secure from difficulties, and dangers, and sorrows. Christ himself was tossed with winds and waves and so must his disciples be, both from within and from without, even whilst they have him with them, and are sailing by his direction.

Whilst this tempest was raging, Jesus was asleep. And they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

In this there is something to blame, and much to approve. There is this to blame, that they show some signs of murmuring, because he had suffered them to fall into such peril; some signs of doubting, whether he could or would deliver them. Yet is not this a picture of ourselves? How feeble is faith, when pressed with heavy trials! How apt are secret complaints and repinings against God to mingle with our supplications! As if our Redeemer, had he really loved us, ought to have preserved us from falling into those troubles. Master, carest thou not that we perish?

At the same time there is this to approve in the disciples, that they knew at once to whom to apply in the hour of trial.

Over those who do thus commit themselves to

him, and are found with him in the way of duty, he is ever watchful. True, as man, he was asleep : for he had taken upon him the weakness of our nature. But as God, he is ever waking: "he that keepeth his people, neither slumbers nor sleeps ;" and not one of his little ones shall ever perish, through want of his protection or failure of his care. This was soon seen, when at the call of his disciples he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and As it happens sometimes

there was a great calm. in life, when prayer has a gracious answer, and sorrow is turned into joy, or troublesome opposition ceases, or some apprehended danger is unexpectedly

removed.

Having thus assured them of their safety, he gently reproves the alarm of his disciples. Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? As much as to say, Have ye not seen enough of my kindness and enough of my power, to believe that you must be safe when you are in my hands? They had witnessed many of his miracles; they had heard his gracious promises; they knew the services which they were chosen for, and destined to perform; yet, in the hurry of the present danger, all these thoughts vanished from their minds: as too often, when the hour of temptation arrives, we forget everything we have heard, and everything we have believed, and everything we have determined. And well might the Lord say, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have so little faith? Has it not been promised, "Fear ye not, for I am with you;" "My grace is sufficient for

thee;" "My strength is made perfect in weakness;" "As your day is, so shall your strength be?"

Christians have learnt to expect this, by the recorded experience of their brethren. It was new to those who witnessed it; and they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him.

They might well be struck with awe and wonder, who knew not what manner of man he was.

But

we cannot wonder, to whom it is revealed, that by Him God made the worlds, and "without Him was not anything made that was made." It is really no wonder that the thing created should yield to the power of its creator: that he who "fixed the bounds of the sea by a perpetual decree," should say, "Hitherto shalt thou come and no farther, and here shall thy proud waves be stayed."

Our chief lesson is, however, that Christ may be trusted to deliver us both from outward and from internal enemies. Outward difficulties, which seem to threaten our course, are often turned aside when we meet them in the strength of the Lord. And so are the far worse and more dangerous hindrances which arise from our own bad passions. Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith!. There is one to deliver us from the "body of death" within, from "the law of sin which is in our members." Commit yourselves to Him, "who is able to save to the uttermost." Seek of him strength against the sins that most easily beset you. He shall rebuke the winds and the waves, and there shall be a great calm and men shall marvel and say, What manner

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