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Let us pray that the triumphant progress of his kingdom may come. In the mean time let it be our desire that the principles of the gospel may, like a sacred kind of leaven, diffuse themselves through our whole souls; that all our powers and faculties, that all our thoughts and passions, may be, as it were, impregnated and elevated by them.

SECTION XXII.

Matt. XIII. 36, 18—23.

MARK IV. 10—25. LUKE VIII. 9-18.

THEN Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house, and when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked him, saying, What might this parable be? And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but unto them that are without all these things are done in parables. That seeing they might not see; and hearing they might hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? And how then will ye know all parables? Hear ye then the parable of the sower. Now the parable is this. The seed is the word of God. The sower soweth the word, and those by the way-side where the word is sown are they that hear the word of the kingdom and understand it not; but when they have heard Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. And these are they likewise which have received the seed into stony places, who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with joy; and these have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: which for a while believe; and in time of temptation, when tribulation, affliction, or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended, and fall away. And these are they which are sown among thorns: which, when they have heard the word, go

forth, and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and pleasures of this life, and the lust of other things entering in, choke the word, and it bringeth no fruit to perfection. And these are they that received seed into the good ground; such as hear the word, and understand it, and receive it in an honest and good heart; and having heard the word, keep it, which also bear fruit with patience, and bring forth, some an hundred-fold, some sixty, and some thirty.

And he said unto them, No man when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bushel, or under a bed: but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light. For there is nothing hid which shall not be manifested: neither was any thing kept secret, that shall not be known, and come abroad. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And he said unto them, Take heed therefore what and how ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. 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 which he seemeth to have.

Let us apply to ourselves this charge of our blessed Redeemer, and take heed how we hear. Especially let us be very careful that we despise not him that now speaks to us from heaven; and remember the authority, which his exaltation there gives to the words which he spake in the days of his flesh.

Let us attentively hear the parable of the sower and its interpretation. Still is Christ by his word and ministers, sowing among us the good seed. Still is the great enemy of souls labouring to snatch it away. Let us endeavour to understand, that we may retain it; and to retain, that we may practise it. Still do the cares of this world press us; still do its pleasures solicit us; still do our lusts war in our members; and all unite their efforts to prevent our fruitfulness in good works: but let us remember, that with having our fruit unto holiness, everlasting life is connected as the end; and that in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (Rom. vi. 22, and Gal. vi. 9.)

Let us therefore be concerned that the seed may take deep root in our minds, that we may not rest in any superficial impression on the passions; but, feeling the energy of that living principle, may flourish under the circumstances which wither others, and may in due time be gathered as God's wheat into his garner. Nor let us repine if we now go forth weeping, bearing this precious seed, while we have such a hope of coming again rejoicing, bringing our sheaves with us. (Psalm cxxvi. 6.)

SECTION XXIII.

MATT. XIII. 44-52.

AGAIN, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchantman, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind; which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire; there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord. Then said he unto them, Therefore every Scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven, is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

LUKE VIII. 19—21.

Then cometh to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press. And it was told him by certain which said, thy mother and

thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God and do it.

Let us remember the value of the blessings the gospel proposes; and regarding Christ as the pearl of great price, and heaven as that immense treasure in which alone we can be for ever rich and happy, let us be willing to part with all to secure it, if we are called to such a trial.

It is not enough that we are nominal Christians, or possessed of the common privileges of the church: the day of final separation will come, and the angels employed in the work will not overlook us, but conduct us to the abodes of the righteous or the wicked. Oh that we may not then be cast with abhorrence into the furnace of fire! but now seriously realizing to ourselves this awful day, of which our Lord has given such repeated prospects, may we so judge ourselves that we may not then be condemned of him!

SECTION XXIV.

MATT. XIII. 53. MATT. VIII. 18-27. MARK IV. 35-41. LUKE VIII. 22-25.

AND it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.

And the same day, when the even was come, when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment and saith unto them, let us pass over unto the other side. And a certain Scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests: but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. But Jesus said unto him, Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead. 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. And he said unto his disciples, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. And behold,

there arose a great storm of wind and a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full, and they were in jeopardy. And he was in the hinder part of the ship asleep on a pillow; and his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, carest thou not that we perish? Lord, save us, or we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? How is it that ye have no faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds, and the raging of the water, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still; and the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. But the men feared exceedingly, and marvelled, and said one to another, What manner of man is this? for he commandeth even the winds and the water, and even the winds and the sea obey him.

How great and glorious does our blessed Redeemer appear, as having all the elements at his command, and exercising his dominion over the winds and seas! He stills the very tempests when they roar, and makes the storm a calm. (Ps. cvii. 29.) He silences at once the noise and fury of the tumultuous waves: and, in the midst of its confusion, says to the raging sea, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further; and here shall thy proud waves be stayed. (Job xxxviii. 11.) Who would not reverence and fear him! Who would not cheerfully commit themselves to him! Under such a protection, how courageously may his church ride through every storm and weather every danger! Christ is still with her, and she is safe even while he may seem to be sleeping. Blessed Jesus! that power of thine which here commanded the tempest into a calm, can easily silence all our tumultuous passions, and reduce our souls to that blessed tranquillity in which alone we can be capable of enjoying thee and ourselves.

May we still be applying to Christ with such importunate addresses; and, sensible how much we need his help, may we cry out, Lord, save us, or we perish! And may it be the language, not of suspicion and terror, but of faith; of a faith determined at all adventures to adhere to him, whatever dangers are to be encountered, or whatever advantages are to be resigned!

Did his compassion for us, and his desire of our salvation, engage him to submit to such destitute and calamitous cir

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