gladly listened to by the sick or afflicted man and he resolves within himself to lead a new life, following the commandments of God, and walking from henceforth in His holy ways. And we may say of such an one, in the words of Scripture, "He hath well said all that he hath spoken. O that there were such an heart in him, that he would fear God, and keep his commandments always, that it might be well with him for ever!"

2. But the parable warns us, that some, who receive the word with gladness, endure but for a time; afterward when persecution or affliction ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.

They who were around the Lord when he spoke these words, were indeed exposed to persecution and affliction. For the word's sake, i. e. because they acknowledged Christ as a Prince and a Saviour, they were commonly despoiled of their goods, cast off by their relations, brought before rulers and governors, thrown into prison, even condemned to die. And we cannot be surprised, when such trials came upon them, if' many were offended; stumbled and fell; renounced the faith which brought them into this affliction.

These dangers are not common now. But. the parable was uttered for our age, as well as for theirs. And in no age is Christian faith exempt from trial.

3 Deut. v. 28.

First, there are many sorts of persecutions. A man may be persecuted by scorn and sneers, and reproaches, as well as by confiscation of goods, or imprisonment of person. He may be assailed by friends no less dangerously than by enemies. And some such persecutions every man must expect to meet with, who determines to live in the fear of God, and make it his first object to "work out his salvation." Take the case of a penitent transgressor, who in the hour of sickness or of sorrow has resolved to forsake his evil ways. Will he be left unmolested by the companions of his former wickedness? Will he not have many a scoff to bear and many a solicitation to refuse, before he is so far stablished and settled in the faith as to have formed a better companionship? Take the case of the young, now leaving their parents' roof and care, separated from the minister who has guided and instructed them, and cast among the temptations and corruptions with which the world abounds. Too often it proves that these have no root in themselves, and "in time of temptation fall

There are likewise different sorts of affliction. It was an affliction to the early Christians, when the parent rose up against the child, or the child against the parent ;5 when friends became enemies, and a home or a country or all that life has most valuable, must be forsaken for the word's sake. But there is another affliction 4 Luke viii. 17. 5 Matt. x. 35, 36.

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which belongs to every land and every age: the affliction of laying aside evil habits, and of resisting temptations to sin: and this trial is often greater than the sacrifice of home, or friends, or possessions. When a man learns that "the grace of God which bringeth salvation" requires that he "live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts:" when he learns that he must contend against the flesh, inciting him to sin; must oppose the world, tempting him by example; must resist the devil, prompting him to "follow the multitude;" when he learns that he must restrain his appetites, watch over his temper, put a bridle on his lips, control his thoughts, and so keep down everything that is contrary to the divine will, and would "grieve the Holy Spirit:" then it is seen that the plant must be deeply rooted which can stand against these trials instead of withering before them. It is in this "time of temptation" that too many "fall away." Like the blade of grass which has sprouted on a bed of stone, which "is scorched when the sun is up"-so that youth who had readily received the word, or the penitent who had heard with joy that there was still hope, first yields to one temptation, and then to another; first draws back from one duty, and then from more; till at last only the dry stalk remains; no spiritual vigour, no sign of the life of God in the soul. Corn would flourish

Now then is the trial.

See Tit. ii. 11-14.

7 Matt. xiii. 6.

upon stony ground, if there were neither too much drought nor too much moisture; but it cannot survive the winter's rain or the summer's heat, without depth of earth. And so a man might retain his character as a disciple of Christ, if the season were always fair and genial; if there were nothing to prove him, nothing to be resisted or performed. But he has much to do, and much to overcome: and therefore there must be that root in himself, which enables him both to act zealously and to suffer resolutely. And those, we are told, who "are offended and fall away," have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time.

And here it might seem impossible that the seed should ever strike its roots deeply, which is sown on stony ground. But there is a difference between the stony ground in the parable, and the heart to which it is compared. The nature of the rock is unchangeable, no plant can ever take root in it but there is no heart so hard that the Spirit of God cannot soften it, and enable faith to" take root downward, and bear fruit upward," to the glory of God, the honour of Christ, and the salvation of the soul. For such is the promise; "I will take away the stony heart, and give you a heart of flesh :" a tender heart, which may be wrought upon and softened, and so prepared to receive the seed.

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It must be softened first, by a conviction of sin;-of the sinfulness of sin, as incurring God's

8 Ezek. xxxvi. 26.

wrath and condemnation :-of the extent of sin, as involving all mankind in ruin : '-of the consequence of sin, as leading to everlasting "destruction from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His power."2

When the heart is thus prepared, and the Spirit has performed his proper office, to "reprove" (or convince) " of sin, "3 the word of the gospel takes root: man confessing himself condemned as a transgressor of that law which is "holy, just, and good," welcomes the Saviour who delivers him from "the curse of the law:" and thankfully receives the assurance, that "we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and that He is the propitiation for our sins.'

Faith, thus planted, will have a root: a root which will stand in the day of trial: neither torn away by the bad counsel of the ungodly, nor loosened by our natural propensity to evil. When the way seems long and difficult, the ascent steep which leads to heaven ;—when the "mortifying the deeds of the body," the "crucifying the flesh with the affections and lusts," costs incessant watchfulness and labour;-the root will still retain its hold. "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith," we shall see that "our light affliction which is but for a moment," may well be endured for the sake of that eternal blessedness which He pur

9 Rom. vii. 13.

1 Ib. v. 12.
8 John xvi. 8.

2 2 Thess. i. 9.